Newcastle United are in pursuit of Lorient attacker Alexis Claude-Maurice, according to Sky Sports.
The broadcaster claims that the Magpies are one of many clubs interested in snapping up the 21-year-old this summer after he enjoyed a stellar season in Ligue 2.
It is understood that the France Under-20 international would prefer a move to Arsenal but Borussia Monchengladbach, RB Leipzig, Lyon, Lille, Monaco, Marseille, Sevilla, Brighton and West Ham, as well as Newcastle, are all said to be in the hunt for his signature.
Sky Sports adds that Lorient’s owner will only sell Claude-Maurice to the highest bidder.
OPINION
It is not a shock to see Newcastle looking at potential targets, even though there is so much uncertainty surrounding the Tyneside club at the moment in regards to the future of both Rafa Benitez and Mike Ashley. However it seems like Benitez has drawn up a list of targets if he stays on at the Magpies and Claude-Maurice, based on his form in the 2018/19 season, would be a decent addition. Claude-Maurice is a left-sided winger who can also play in the attacking midfield role or even up front as a striker. He scored 14 goals and supplied four assists last term in 36 appearances across all competitions for Lorient, who finished sixth in Ligue 2. Although Claude-Maurice is a second-tier player, he is still young and you can tell by the clubs interested in him that he is talented. Newcastle will be very lucky to sign the attacker though, who seems to have his heart on a move to Arsenal.
