Newcastle United set to raise £51m from player sales; could it help them in Alassane Plea chase?

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Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez is said to have made Nice forward Alassane Plea his top target.

According to the Shields Gazette, Newcastle United are set to raise a combined £51 million from the sales of Matt Ritchie, Chancel Mbemba, Mikel Merino and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The quartet have all been deemed expendable by Rafael Benitez, with Newcastle hoping to invest any money they raise from the sales of the fringe players into new additions.

And if Benitez has made Alassane Plea his top target, then Newcastle surely will have the funds to bring the Nice forward to St. James’ Park.

The Northern Echo have suggested that Nice value Plea at £27 million, with Newcastle prepping a second bid for the striker.

And even if they have to meet that expensive valuation, which would break Newcastle’s transfer record, Benitez should have the budget to do so.

Newcastle have only brought in Martin Dubvraka and Ki Sung-Yeung so far this summer, but more arrivals are expected in the very near future, and Benitez may well have genuine reason to believe that Plea could be one of them.