Fulham delay gives Newcastle United final chance to renew Maxime Poundje interest

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Bordeaux left-back Maxime Poundje was reportedly a target for Newcastle United last season – but now Fulham are leading the chase.

Reports in The Express that Chelsea are having second thoughts about loaning Brazilian left-back Kenedy to Newcastle United could hardly have come at a worse time for Rafael Benitez.

The Spaniard is already frustrated at the lack of new faces at St James’ Park this summer and the hamstring injury suffered by Paul Dummett five minutes into their season opener against Tottenham Hotspur, and the subsequent two week lay-off, leaves Newcastle light at left-back.

Achraf Lazaar and Massadio Haidara are clearly not in Benitez’s plans, meaning Ciaran Clark was forced to fill in on the left hand side of defence as Spurs eventually ground out a 2-0 win.

However, with Chelsea concerned that their squad is too thin to sanction another departure, and a deal for Kieran Gibbs growing cold, it’s a surprise that Newcastle haven’t turned their attention back to Maxime Poundje.

The Sunday People (October 3^rd, page 48) reported that The Magpies had tracked the Bordeaux left-back’s progress. With a lack of alternative options available to them, the affordable 24-year-old suddenly seems like a tempting target.

Worth every Poundje

However, it appears that The Magpies have missed the boat with Sky Sports reporting that Fulham have agreed a deal to sign Poundje. The Cottagers need a new left-back after Scott Malone, who was included in the Championship Team of the Season, departed for Premier League new-boys Huddersfield Town.

However, the deal is far from done. The report claims that Fulham are struggling to convince the former France Under-19 international to make the move to Craven Cottage and, as a result, have Cardiff City’s Joe Bennett as a back-up plan.

Therefore, if Newcastle want affordable cover at left-back, they may have one last chance to land a player who would not necessarily improve the starting XI but would beef up Benitez’s small squad.