Newcastle United seemingly wanted the 20-year-old.
Morocco international Hamza Mendyl has confirmed to German outlet Kicker that he was negotiating with Newcastle United about a move this summer.
The 20-year-old defender joined Schalke from Lille in a £6.2 million move [Transfermarkt] last week.
Newcastle had been linked with a left-back for much of the summer and it appears as if Mendyl was being sounded out by Rafael Benitez.
The Moroccan has confirmed that he spoke to the Magpies – and Arsenal – about a move to the Premier League during the off-season, but revealed that work permit issues made the chance impossible to pursue.
He told Kicker, when asked about reported Premier League interest: “True, I’ve been in talks with Arsenal FC and Newcastle United.
“But being a Moroccan citizen it’s not so easy to get a work permit there, I would have thought I’d play in England.”
Benitez signed Kenedy on a season-long loan from Chelsea, but the Brazilian is more a left-sided attacker than a left-back.
The Spanish manager did not sign anyone in Mendyl’s position, so although the Schakle new boy isn’t a possibility for the immediate future, Benitez could still be interested in a left-back.
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