Liverpool are not making it easy for Newcastle United to sign Sheyi Ojo this summer.
Though Yoan Gouffran looked like a player transformed under Rafael Benitez at times last season, some would argue that the club handing him a new contract rather sums up their underwhelming start to the summer transfer market.
For months, the club’s stance appeared to be that the Frenchman would depart St James’ Park in the summer on a free transfer. However, with Christian Atsu, who spent last season on loan from Chelsea, the only permanent signing at St James’ Park since the end of the season, it appears that The Magpies have changed their mind.
The Chronicle reports that Gouffran stalled on an offer of a one-year contract extension and his agent is now requesting better terms. The former Bordeaux winger, who arrived as part of former scout Graham Carr’s Francophile revolution in January 2013, is eying up his last big pay day at the age of 31 and has also attracted interest from Turkish Super Lig clubs.
Newcastle United’s Yoan Gouffran arguably enjoyed his finest season in English football in 2016/17
Consequently, Newcastle are now in a fight to sign a player who, just last week, was contracted to the club.
Though perhaps this is a response to that fact that a deal to sign Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo is proving difficult.
According to The Chronicle, The Reds rejected Newcastle’s attempt to sign the 20-year-old on a season-long loan deal. Ojo, who became English football’s most expensive 14-year-old when he signed from MK Dons in 2011, is understood to be rated very highly by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo
As such, the report adds that they will wait until later in the transfer window before deciding whether to loan him out this summer.
With frustration growing on Tyneside, however, Newcastle cannot afford to wait around much longer. Therefore, Gouffran may be handed a reprieve.
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