Premier League trio Newcastle United, Everton and Burnley all want Nice’s Alassane Plea this summer.
There has been plenty of talk about the future of an in-form Nice striker recently but it is not Mario Balotelli who is on the radar of Everton, Burnley and Newcastle United, according to Italian publication Calciomercato.
They are reporting that the Premier League trio are instead hot on the trail of Balotelli’s strike partner at the Allianz Riviera – the pacey and powerful Alassane Plea.
Now, Newcastle fans might be a little surprised about this potential return to the Ligue 1 market.
After all, while The Magpies pulled off some excellent deals for the likes of Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy during the reign of Francophile chief scout Graham Carr, big-money additions Florian Thauvin, Remy Cabella and Emmanuel Riviere proved to be massive flops after making that journey across the channel.
But there is little to suggest that Plea will be the latest in a long line of Ligue 1 talents who failed spectacularly at St James’ Park.
The former Lyon youngster netted 11 times in 22 starts last season to fire surprise packages Nice to third in the French top flight last season and he has already bettered that tally this time around.
Plea has 13 goals in 24 starts in 2017/18 – a tally enhanced by a remarkable run of form which has seen him hit the net seven times in his last four games, including a stunning four-goal haul in a 5-2 thrashing of Guingamp.
Ligue 1 signings have burned Newcastle in the past – but Plea’s form is enough reason to get back on the horse.
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