Yoann Barbet’s form in the Championship for Brentford has caught the eye of Premier League outfit Newcastle United.
Dean Smith faces competition from Newcastle United as he aims to reunite with Yoann Barbet at Aston Villa, according to Calciomercato.
The Aston Villa boss knows the Frenchman well, having signed him for Brentford in the summer of 2015. Since then, Barbet has established himself as one of the Championship’s more reliable defenders while his ability to play at centre-half and left-back has earned him plenty of admirers.
And with Villa lacking depth in both positions, the former Bees boss apparently wants the 25-year-old to follow in his footsteps and leave Griffin Park for the Midlands during the summer transfer window.
But reports claim that Newcastle are interested too and could offer Barbet the chance to play Premier League football for the first time.
It is no secret that Rafa Benitez’s side are crying out for a left-back with Antonio Barreca, who joined on loan from Monaco in January with an option to buy, rapidly falling out of favour and increasingly unlikely to stay on Tyneside.
Newcastle will no doubt be tempted by the fact that Barbet’s contract expires in July although he told Football London recently that talks over a new deal are ongoing.
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