RC Lens CEO Arnaud Pouille has distanced himself from speculation linking Ignatius Ganago with a move to Premier League strugglers Newcastle United, speaking to La Voix du Nord.
At this stage, Eddie Howe must feel like he’s banging his head repeatedly against a brick wall.
Because, with just a few days of the January transfer window remaining, Newcastle continue to trip over hurdle after hurdle like a Shetland pony at the Grand National.
Sevilla director Monchi claims that negotiations with Newcastle regarding a deal for star centre-back Diego Carlos are ‘finished’.
Lille’s president, meanwhile, says that Sven Botman is going nowhere.
Felix Uduokhai wants to stay and help Augsburg avoid the drop in the Bundesliga.
Furthermore, the agent of Italy international Robin Gosens says that the Atalanta flyer has rebuffed relegation-threatened Newcastle in favour of league-leading Inter Milan.
Now, we can scrub Ganago’s name off Newcastle’s lengthy winter wishlist too.
Are Newcastle missing out on another reported transfer target?
According to L’Equipe, Newcastle opened talks to sign the 22-year-old Cameroon international striker last week.
But when quizzed about a potential move to St James’ Park for Ganago, Lens’ CEO was bullish in his response.
“There’s nothing at all,” Pouille says.
Ganago is hardly the sort of signing that would have had Newcastle supporters flocking to St James’ Park; A sea of black-and-white welcoming him to the Gallowgate in a mirror-image of Alan Shearer’s iconic 1996 arrival.
The rangy Ganago has scored just three Ligue 1 goals this season. A £5 million signing from OGC Nice, he’s hardly a regular in the first XI either. Ganago has started a grand total of seven out of a possible 22 league matches.
Newcastle obviously see something special in the young striker, however. And Ganago would tick a few boxes for a club who, despite their new-found financial might, have drawn up a long-term plan revolving around talented, up-and-coming youngsters with plenty of potential.
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