According to the Daily Star, Newcastle are in talks with Nantes over the signing of Ludovic Blas, as the Magpies aim to stay in the Premier League.
What’s the story?
Well, this could turn out to be a fantastic signing by Newcastle.
Blas – who is good friends with Kylian Mbappé – is enjoying a fine season over in France, scoring seven goals in Ligue 1.
The Daily Star believe Watford are also in talks to sign the 24-year-old, while French champions Lille are interested as well.
Blas has a contract with Nantes until June 2024, so it would presumably require a sizeable offer for Newcastle to get him to the Premier League.
Last season, the Frenchman – who plays as a right winger – embarked on more successful dribbles in Ligue 1 than any other player with 80.
To do that in a division containing the likes of Neymar and Mbappé is pretty special, in our view.
Newcastle hold advantage in Ludovic Blas race
Somewhat unnecessarily, the Daily Star remind us that Watford have a significantly smaller budget than Newcastle.
The Hornets are also targeting defensive reinforcements, so in that respect, it doesn’t sound as if they’ll be able to outmuscle Newcastle in this transfer battle.
That is brilliant news for Eddie Howe, as Blas appears to be a fine player.
He’s even been described as a more talented player than the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah.
That is according to Pedro Chirivella, who played with the trio at Liverpool before linking up with Blas at Nantes.
Speaking to So Foot, the Spaniard admitted he feels Blas is more talented than any other player he’s played with.
Chirivella said: “When it comes to pure talent, I rate Ludovic Blas above all others. I played with Coutinho, Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, I know what they are capable of, and when I see what Ludo is doing in training or in games, he has nothing to envy them when it comes to talent.”
That is quite the endorsement, to say the least.
Keep an eye on this saga – Newcastle could be about to bring a seriously exciting forward to the Premier League.
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