Newcastle United could be rivalled by Roma in the race to sign Eibar defender Florian Lejeune.
Eibar defender Florian Lejeune
According to Gazzetta Dello Sport (Press Reader), Roma are ready to challenge Newcastle for the signature of Eibar defender Florian Lejeune – but their signing of Hector Moreno may change that.
Lejeune, 26, was on the books with Agde, Istres, Villarreal and Girona before a strange move to Manchester City in 2015, where he failed to play a single game as he was loaned out to Girona and then sold to Eibar last summer.
Eibar’s Florian Lejeune (R)
The French centre back impressed this past season, featuring regularly in La Liga and turning in a host of fine performances to trigger major interest in his signature.
The Mirror reported earlier this month that Newcastle United are hoping to sign Lejeune to boost their squad after promotion to the Premier League, with a deal worth £8.7million in the pipeline.
Eibar’s Florian Lejeune challenges Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo
Lejeune could compete with Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clarke and Chancel Mbemba in the Newcastle defence, but new speculation suggests that the Magpies face fresh competition for his signature.
Gazzetta Dello Sport (Press Reader) report that Roma are now interested in signing Lejeune, with former Sevilla chief Monchi now in charge of transfers at the Stadio Olimpico, and he could call upon his knowledge of Spanish football to land Lejeune.
Mexico international Hector Moreno
Roma did though sign Mexican international centre back Hector Moreno earlier today, with Goal reporting that the fee involved to sign the PSV Eindhoven was just €5million (£4.4million) – and that could leave Newcastle in the clear to land Lejeune.
Roma still have question marks at centre back, with speculation surrounding the futures of Kostas Manolas and Antonio Rudiger, but with Federico Fazio already at the club and Moreno signed, Roma may not be strong challengers to Newcastle for Lejeune’s signature unless another defender leaves the club.
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