Mo Diame is reportedly close to triggering an extension clause in his Newcastle United contract.
Mo Diame may be three appearances away from having his Newcastle contract extended by a further year, but the midfielder has actually set his sights on a deal that runs until 2021, according to a report from the Chronicle.
Diame has been an important part of Rafa Benitez’s plans this season. He has not been able to replicate some of the superb form that he showed last term, but he has made 22 Premier League appearances for the Magpies.
The Chronicle reports that Diame only needs to make a handful of further appearances to have his terms extended automatically. That would keep the £4 million midfielder at St James’ Park until the end of next season.
However, the Chronicle adds that Diame is hoping for a longer offer, with a contract until 2021 his preferred choice at this stage.
There may be some supporters who would prefer to see Newcastle avoid handing out the longer deal that Diame is looking for. He has not been as influential this season, and at 31, the Magpies would be forgiven for wanting to review his future on a much more regular basis.
Since his brilliant spell last year, Sean Longstaff has come into the first-team and hinted that he has the potential to be a key part of the club’s plans for a long time.
And if Diame’s contract is taking up a decent portion of the club’s wage budget, then it arguably makes a lot more sense to hold fire on discussing the deal that he is after until it becomes easier to tell what role he will play.
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