Newcastle United could yet face further frustration in Eddie Howe’s search for a striker, as Gaetan Laborde does not rule out snubbing interest to stay at Stade Rennais this summer.
Gaetan Laborde does not rule out snubbing Newcastle to stay at Stade Rennais
According to Foot Mercato, Gaetan Laborde does not rule out rejecting the vast interest in his services, from teams including Newcastle United, to stay at Stade Rennais this summer.
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The forward has become a target for various European outfits, after his 15 goals and eight assists over 38 Ligue 1 games last season. He also hit the net five times from seven Europa Conference League ties, and has started the new top-flight term with a goal in two outings.
His 2021/22 haul marked a successful debut campaign at Roazhon Park for the 28-year-old after joining from Montpellier last August. Laborde started the season with three goals from four Ligue 1 games for La Paillade, before leaving the Stade de la Mosson on deadline day.
Rennes awarded Laborde a four-year contract to lead their attack, and he has started in 42 of a possible 45 games across all competitions since. The former France U20 international also offers a versatile presence with an ability to play out wide, and has been captain once.
Yet teams have approached Stade Rennais to seek information on Laborde’s situation over the summer. OGC Nice are the latest to hold informal discussions, but are favouring moves for Ben Brereton Diaz of Blackburn, Edinson Cavani or Sporting Lisbon star Islam Slimani.
Eddie Howe may yet face further frustration in quest to sign a new striker
Laborde, though, feels good in Brittany, so does not rule out snubbing interest to stay with Stade Rennais this term. His stance may come as a blow for Eddie Howe, as Foot Mercato recently reportedly that his Newcastle are one of the teams interested in signing Laborde.
LOSC Lille in Ligue 1 and Sevilla in La Liga are also keen on the striker, who Rennes signed for €15m (£13m). All three have tracked Laborde for many months and sensed a chance to sign him following Arnaud Kalimuendo joining from Paris Saint-Germain for €25m (£21m).
Stade Rennais will want around €20-25m (£17-21m) for Laborde, given he agreed a long-term deal last year. Yet despite their willingness to entertain approaches for information, Laborde may still annoy Newcastle, having failed to sign other striker targets this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain let Kalimuendo leave the Parc des Princes after beating Newcastle to sign Hugo Ekitike on loan from Stade de Reims with an option to buy. The striker then told Le Parisien: “I’m not setting aside everything Newcastle did for me to come [to Tyneside].
“If I had to go abroad, I would have gone there [in a two-year loan worth £4m with a £26m obligation to buy in 2024]. But when PSG want you and you’re French, you can’t refuse.”
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