It isn’t just Lille’s defenders that Newcastle are interested in

It seems like every day Newcastle United are being linked with another player from Lille. Up to now the Magpies have been reported to be interested in mainly defensive targets, but yesterday Newcastle were credited to be watching Lille striker Tulio de Melo.

Earlier this month Lille midfielder Joe Cole, who’s on loan from Liverpool, revealed that he’s seen Newcastle manager Alan Pardew in the crowd in at least six Ligue 1 matches this season. Chief Scout Graham Carr is also scouting France every other week, so there must be someone from Lille that the Magpies are watching closely.

Previously Newcastle have been thought to be interested in France international right back Mathieu Debuchy and maybe they are. Debuchy is known to be good friends with former club teammate and current international teammate Yohan Cabaye who has made waves in his first year in the north-east.

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This week Newcastle were then linked with Aurelien Chedjou, a 26-year-old, 6ft 1in centre back who is a Cameroon international. Chedjou is on the borderline as far as Newcastle’s transfer policy age-wise, but that wouldn’t necessarily completely rule out a move from Pardew.

It isn’t just Lille defenders that Newcastle are watching though, as now the Magpies are thought to be taking a close look at Tulio de Melo according to talkSPORT. The Brazilian striker may be 27-years-old, but he will also be available on a free on the summer so that might persuade Newcastle to go against their own transfer policy.

Tulio de Melo stands at 6ft 4in tall and has played most of his club football in France. Three years at Le Mans were followed by an unsuccessful stint in Italy with Palermo, before his return to Lille in 2008, where he has stayed for four seasons.

Lille’s number nine hasn’t scored a hatful of goals during his time in Ligue 1, netting just a dozen times in more than 50 appearances, but with his contract up in the summer, he could be the man to provide cover to Newcastle’s Senegalese striking duo.

Let’s hope that Newcastle actually end up signing a different Lille player altogether. A footballer who goes by the name of Eden Hazard!

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