Badou N’Diaye hasn’t really found his best form since moving to Galatasaray – which raises questions about a reported huge Newcastle United bid.
Newcastle United’s long wait for a record signing may come to an end in January. According to Turkish publication Sporx, Galatasaray midfielder Badou N’Diaye is being closely monitored by the men in black and white.
The Senegal international is valued at £18 million after moving to Gala from Osmanlispor in the summer, however – meaning Newcastle will have to pay ever so slightly more than they splashed out to bring Michael Owen to Tyneside from Real Madrid back in 2005.
Sky Sports reported that Newcastle wanted N’Diaye in the summer, after a superb season for Osmanlispor in the Super Lig. A powerful midfielder renowned for his impressive goals tally, The Magpies would probably have been hoping that he could provide some attack intent to a team lacking in central thrust.
N’Diaye scored six times for Osmanlispor in 2016/17 and 11 the season before.
But if Newcastle see the 27-year-old as the man to add goals to their midfield, they shouldn’t overlook the fact that N’Diaye is yet to open his account in ten Super Lig appearances for Galatasaray.
Should they really pay a record-breaking fee for a player they could have signed for half the price just a few months ago? If the dynamic and forward-thinking N’Diaye can replicate his form from last season when he had a number of Premier League clubs fawning over his signature, his price-tag may be justified.
On current form, however, Newcastle must genuinely consider whether N’Diaye is worth ending a 13-year wait for.
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