Fulham target Yassine Ayoub was linked with Sunderland in August but the Eredivisie star would be perfect for Newcastle United.
Newcastle United are so desperate to sign a creative ‘number ten’ that they are willing to offer Fulham huge money to sign their talismanic captain Tom Cairney in the January transfer window, per the Northern Echo.
The Magpies saw a £20 million bid rejected in the summer for last season’s EFL Player of the Year. But a run of one win, and four goals, in six games prior to the international break has exposed a lack of vision and skill in central midfield, making a playmaker a priority in the eyes of manager Rafa Benitez.
But with Utrecht’s highly-rated lynchpin Yassine Ayoub heavily linked with a move to England in the New Year, Newcastle should join the chase before it’s too late.
HITC sources told us on Friday that Fulham have sent scouts to watch the diminutive schemer on several occasions this season. Though Newcastle could be the ideal environment for the 23-year-old former Ajax youngster to prove just how good he can be.
Blessed with real technical quality, innate vision and an excellent weight of pass, Ayoub has been one of the standout midfielders in the Eredivisie for the last few years and has assisted 17 goals across the last three seasons.
And if Newcastle wanted another reason why they should give Ayoub this chance on Tyneside, HITC sources told us in August that North East rivals Sunderland were interested in a player whose contact expires in 2018.
With the Black Cats bottom of the Championship and lacking the ability to carve open opposition defences, Ayoub’s clever incisive passing would have come in very useful indeed.
Though Newcastle too would benefit from Ayoub’s creativity – and the midfielder would cost far less than Cairney too.
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