Newcastle are reportedly interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente.
Newcastle United are reportedly battling Deportivo La Coruna for the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente before Wednesday’s deadline – and Toon fans have reacted pessimistically on Twitter.
Spanish newspaper AS claim the 23-year-old is a target for Rafa Benitez, after the Spanish boss handed Llorente his Real debut back in October 2015 during a 3-0 win over Levante in La Liga.
He has made 13 appearances for Zinedine Zidane’s side this season, but six of those have come in the Copa Del Rey as he remains behind the likes of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro in the pecking order.
Real Betis are also supposedly interested in nabbing the eight-time Spain Under-21 international’s signature, as are Alaves who Llorente spent the 2016-17 campaign on loan with. But Newcastle and Deportivo are leading the chase.
Newcastle fans, though, reacted gloomily to the report, with an earlier claim from Spanish newspaper Marca claiming Athletic Bilbao want to sign Mikel Merino. Fans reckon that Llorente could mean Merino will depart.
Some fans reckon Llorente is a replacement for Merino, while others are simply lacking in confidence that Newcastle can complete another January deal after missing out on Daniel Sturridge and Nicolai Jorgensen.
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