Dean Jones has told Give Me Sport that he is “expecting” Newcastle to table offers for two Ligue 1 players in the coming days, namely Lyon and Brazil playmaker Lucas Paqueta and Marseille striker Bamba Dieng.
Newcastle have been strongly linked with Paqueta for much of the window. The club have a solid connection with Lyon given the signing of Bruno Guimaraes. Of course, £68million-rated Paqueta is close friends with Bruno.
Meanwhile, Newcastle want a striker and Senegal international Dieng is on their radar. Reports claim that Celtic have just joined Leeds, West Ham and The Toon in the race for the £10million-rated ace, who is desperate to leave Marseille.
Now, Jones says that Newcastle are set to take action on both Dieng and Paqueta. He says that both players will be the subject of bids from Newcastle sooner rather than later, which could cost a combined £78million.
“We need to keep our eyes on Newcastle, there is a lot of plotting going on at the moment. I’m expecting offers to go in for Dieng and Paqueta. Both players are seen as good value,” Jones told Give Me Sport.
Jones expecting Newcastle to table Paqueta and Dieng offers
Newcastle’s priorities seem to be an attacking midfielder and a striker, with three weeks left to go in the window. Offers have been rejected by Leicester for England international James Maddison, despite the Foxes needing to sell.
The Toon do lack a proper no.10. Joe Willock is arguably the closest to a no.10, with Miguel Almiron operating out wide. But he is more of an eight, if anything. Newcastle have Chris Wood and Callum Wilson up top.
But Wilson is injury prone and while Wood put in a shift during the second half of last season, he is not prolific. A young striker, happy to play on a rotational basis initially, makes sense. Paqueta and Dieng certainly fit the bill.
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