Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - February 1, 2023. FC Barcelona's Raphinha in action with Real Betis' Nabil Fekir.
Newcastle United want to bring Real Betis midfielder Nabil Fekir to the Premier League this summer, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Previous contact made
Eddie Howe has reportedly made a new central signing a priority in the upcoming window and it appears that the 29-year-old has been identified as an ideal candidate.
The Frenchman’s contract in La Liga isn’t set to expire until 2026, but being Manuel Pellegrini’s side’s fourth best-performing offensive player, keeping hold of him will be virtually impossible.
The Magpies made contact regarding a move last July and were considering following up with an official offer, but despite a deal failing to materialise, they are now taking another bite of the cherry.
The Latest: Newcastle eyeing Fekir
According to Spanish reports (via Sport Witness), Newcastle and Leicester are both ‘in the picture’ to sign Fekir ahead of the 2023/24 season.
PIF ‘want’ to land their target the second time around and are set to ‘make one last attempt to close’ a deal at the end of the term.
Real Betis are ‘open’ to letting him go and have set a price tag of €30m (£26m), a fee which would ‘not be difficult’ for the northeast outfit to meet.
The Verdict: Absolute bargain
Fekir has been dubbed a ‘legend’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig and Newcastle should splash the cash to secure his services this summer.
The Puma-sponsored star has scored six goals and provided three assists across all competitions this campaign where he’s currently averaging 1.5 key passes per league game.
The left-footed maestro also ranks in the 96th percentile for most shot-creating actions, highlighting his desire to contribute in the final third.
Should Newcastle be able to successfully sign Fekir for just £26m, it would be an absolute bargain for a player of his talent and calibre.
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