Sevilla are reportedly keen on Newcastle defender Florian Lejeune.
Newcastle United’s focus this summer must be on keeping their key players and adding more quality for Rafael Benitez to work with – but one star has been linked with an exit today.
The Magpies are already attempting to fend off interest in defender Jamaal Lascelles, but now his centre back partner Florian Lejeune is also being touted for a summer move.
Estadio Deportivo in Spain report that new Sevilla boss Pablo Machin wants to land Lejeune to boost his defence, offering the Frenchman a chance to return to La Liga just a year after his £9million (The Mirror) move to Tyneside.
Former Manchester City man Lejeune starred with Eibar, earning himself a move to Newcastle, but Sevilla’s interest is partly driven by his performances for former club Girona.
New Sevilla boss Machin spent four years as Girona boss, and worked with Lejeune for two seasons between 2014 and 2016, making the centre back a key part of his team.
Lejeune scored eight times in 81 games under Machin for Girona, and conceded just 63 goals in his two seasons with the club, giving the Catalan side one of the best defensive records in the second tier.
It remains to be seen whether Lejeuen fancies a reutrn to Spain already, but reuniting with former boss Machin at a major club like Sevilla could be appealing, and would be something of a nightmare for Rafael Benitez.
The Newcastle manager needs to add to his squad, not lose talent like Lejeune, and losing him would be particularly galling given that he ended up forming an outstanding partnership with Lascelles in the heart of the Magpies back line.
27-year-old Lejeune is a key player and the depth behind him – such as Ciaran Clark and linked-away Chancel Mbemba – isn’t good enough to risk his departure, so as Benitez prays that Lascelles stays, he may now have to do the same with Lejeune and not go through a disastrous exit for the French defender.
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