Newcastle United have held talks about signing Nice striker Alassane Plea during internal transfer meetings, according to Chronicle journalist Chris Waugh.
The north-east correspondent, writing in an update on the Chronicle transfer blog (Monday, 10.07am), explained that the £25million-valued Frenchman is on the radar of Rafael Benitez’s side.
But Waugh warned that he does not expect Newcastle to fork out nearly £10million more than their transfer record for Plea as they also look to raise the funds needed to buy Chelsea winger Kenedy and Crystal Palace forward Andros Townsend.
OPINION
Plea is hardly a bargain at £25million but Newcastle know as well as anyone that prolific strikers do not come cheap. And the 25-year-old certainly fits into that category after an excellent 2017-18 campaign for Nice, scoring 21 goals from 49 appearances in all competitions, including 16 times in Ligue 1. Much could depend upon the future of Plea’s partner in crime Mario Balotelli, who netted 25 times last season and is likely to be transferred this summer as he continues his transfer globetrotting. Intriguingly, Plea has spoken previously of his desire to play abroad, learn another language and experience another culture, all things that would interest Newcastle. In an interview with French media outlet RMC earlier this season, he said: “If one day, there is a super club that wants me, we will see what is possible.” Are Newcastle that super club? In terms of financial power and resources, probably not. Their transfer record remains the £16million fee for Michael Owen more than a decade ago. It is difficult to see them pay £25million for Plea this summer, but don’t rule it out completely.
