Said Benrahma produced 11 goals in the Championship last season but could he secure a move to the Premier League with Newcastle United?
Newcastle United showed interest in signing Brentford star Said Benrahma during the summer transfer window, with the Shields Gazette claiming that Steve Bruce’s side are keen to hoover up the most exciting talents in outside the Premier League.
And Benrahma is certainly one of those.
The cynics might have choked on their lunch when former Bees midfielder Sam Saunders likened the 24-year-old to a certain Lionel Messi in March, speaking to Sky Sports, but those comparisons didn’t look too wide of the mark on occasions – particularly during one scarcely-believable afternoon against Hull City.
Benrahma produced 11 goals and 17 assists during a staggering debut season at Griffin Park and Barcelona’s evergreen number ten would have been proud of that mesmeric hat-trick which left the Tigers stunned in February.
“I trained with him and I know it’s a big shout but he is a little bit like Lionel Messi in the way he can run with the ball with pace,” Saunders said. “It just doesn’t leave his foot, it’s like it’s velcroed on.”
So, with Newcastle looking outside the top flight for potential signings, it is no surprise that the Algerian international caught their eye.
TEAMtalk claimed that Brentford, who are masters of signing little-known youngsters on the cheap before selling them on for a huge profit, want £30 million for a forward who certainly looks capable of following Jota, Andre Gray and Chris Mepham to the Premier League.
And with Newcastle scoring just three goals in their first four games of the new season, don’t be surprised if Benrahma is once again a man in demand by the turn of the year.
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