Lille right-back Sebastien Corchia looks set to finally leave Ligue 1 this summer – and Newcastle United should challenge Watford for his signature.
Sebastien Corchia
When Sebastien Corchia finally made the move from Lille, it was expected that he would join a bonafide European giant. After all, the highly-rated right-back had been heavily linked with both Arsenal and PSG since exploding onto the scene in Ligue 1.
However, according to L’Equipe, Corchia is on the radar of a club who finished just six points above the drop zone last season rather than one gearing up for another season of European football.
The report claims that Watford have made a formal offer for the 26-year-old. And, with just a year remaining on his Lille contract, the 2011 Ligue 1 champions may be forced to sell for as little as £6 million.
No wonder Watford are interested, especially as they spent the majority of last season trying to transform winger Nordin Amrabat into an orthodox right-wing back.
However, news that the one-time France international, who would surely be the nation’s first choice if it wasn’t for the emergence of Monaco powerhouse Djibril Sidibe, is available for such an affordable fee means Watford will surely have competition.
And Newcastle United would benefit from making Corchia, who admitted that he modelled his fearsome dead-ball delivery on David Beckham, one of their first summer signings. The deal would certainly ring a bell. After all, it’s only four years since The Magpies plucked French right-back Mathieu Debuchy from Lille after he made his name in Ligue 1.
Debuchy Mk2
However, Corchia appears to have far more potential in the locker than Arsenal’s current forgotten man. He is far sturdier defensively than his Lille predecessor, with that man Sidibe the only defender to make more tackles in Ligue 1 since the beginning of 2015/16, per WhoScored.
Furthermore, with Vurnon Anita set to depart upon the expiry of his contract, and DeAndre Yedlin’s previous Premier League campaign on loan at Sunderland highlighting his defensive deficiencies, there are few better players than Corchia to reinforce the right of Newcastle’s defence.
At just £6 million, the Frenchman would be one of the signings of the summer.
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