Newcastle United set to reignite interest in Nabil Fekir transfer

Newcastle United are set to reignite their interest in signing Real Betis attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir this summer, according to a report.
The Lowdown: Howe eyeing Fekir
Newcastle were rumoured to be interested in signing Fekir in the January transfer window, with reports in Spain claiming that a €50m (£44m) bid was being prepared, amid Real Betis dealing with financial issues (via CaughtOffside).
Conflicting reports from Italy indicated that the Magpies were in unwilling to meet the €45m (£39m) asking price set by the La Liga club, however a renewed bid for a lower fee could be submitted at the end of the season…
The Latest: Interest reignited
According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), Betis know they will be unable to keep hold of the attacking midfielder beyond the summer, and so they are now willing to accept offers of €30m (£26m).
This means that Newcastle will reignite their interest at the end of the campaign, although they will also face competition from Leicester City for his services.
The Verdict: Get it done?
The 25-time France international could be a viable alternative to James Maddison, with reports now indicating that the Leicester midfielder could cost as much as £70m, amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Hailed as ‘tremendous’ by Betis president Angel Haro, the Lyon-born ace excels in creating opportunities, ranking in the 96th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 over the past year, with Maddison placed in just the 75th.
However, to Fekir’s detriment he has no experience of playing in the Premier League, while Maddison has proven himself over the course of many seasons with Leicester, scoring 12 in the top flight in the previous campaign.
Not only that, but the Real Betis ace is now 29-years-old, while Maddison is just 26, and so Newcastle should perhaps prioritise the signing of the Englishman with Fekir as a back-up option.
