Newcastle are reportedly keen to sign Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons.
Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons
According to a report from major French newspaper L’Equipe, Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons is considering leaving the club this summer – and Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is again interesting.
Gonalons, 28, has spent his entire career with Lyon having joined the club at the age of just 10 back in 2000, and he has racked up nearly 350 appearances for the French club.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
The midfielder – who eight caps for France to his name – has won just two trophies during his time with Lyon, and a summer move away from the Stade Gerland could be on the cards.
L’Equipe claim that Gonalons’ relationship with club chairman Jean-Michel Aulas has deteriorated to the point where the midfielder is considering leaving, alerting Newcastle to his potential availability.
Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons in action with Besiktas’ Talisca
Gonalons is no stranger to interest from Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez, given that the Spaniard attempted to lure him to Napoli during the summer of 2014, only for Gonalons to stay with Lyon.
Gonalons even told Lyon’s official website that it wasn’t easy to reject Benitez and Napoli, but he didn’t feel ready to join the Italian side and loved Lyon too much to leave.
However, now appears to be the right time for Benitez to strike and finally sign Gonalons this summer. Not only is Gonalons seemingly disillusioned with life at Lyon, which wasn’t the case three years ago, but the lure of heading to the Premier League may also be appealing.
Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons celebrates
Playing under a manager who has repeatedly attempted to sign him should be a huge show of confidence for Gonalons, and he would also make sense as a prime target for Newcastle as they prepare for their return to the Premier League.
The Magpies do have Jack Colback and Isaac Hayden in their ranks, but landing the strong and defensively impressive Gonalons to protect the back four and free up Jonjo Shelvey to get on the ball and create could be ideal for Benitez – and after a lengthy chase, the Spaniard must look to try again for Gonalons this summer.
Would you like to see Newcastle sign Gonalons?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
