OPINION
Newcastle United should revive their efforts to sign left-back Stanley N’Soki from Paris Saint-Germain this summer after it was reported that the France Under-21 international is available.
According to a report by French newspaper L’Equipe earlier this month, the 20-year-old could leave PSG before the start of next season and he has started to attract attention from Marseille, Lille, Lazio and Roma.
It is understood that PSG want £9million for the left-back, which could be a bargain for someone as promising as him and Newcastle need to get back on the hunt for the impressive youngster.
Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie reported last summer that Rafa Benitez was interested in signing N’Soki while in January, French news outlet RMC Sport claimed that the Magpies still held an interest in the full-back, who can also play in the centre of defence, and made an offer to PSG to sign him on loan.
Of course, that offer was rejected and N’Soki remained at PSG for the remainder of the season.
Last term N’Soki enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Parc des Princes as he appeared 15 times across all competitions and supplied two assists in the process.
According to stats by WhoScored, he averaged 1.7 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 1.5 clearances per Ligue 1 appearances with PSG, which is quite good for a team that does little defending.
On the ball, N’Soki could do slightly better although his pass completion percentage of 86.9 is good for a young defender and he also averaged 1.1 dribbles per Ligue 1 outing.
N’Soki is a work in progress but because he is young, he could join Newcastle to continue his development and raise his transfer value – something which Mike Ashley would no doubt be happy with.
That £9million price-tag that is currently on N’Soki’s head could rise significantly if Steve Bruce was to sign the French Under-21 international this summer, especially as he has inherited a squad that is short in numbers at left-back.
Paul Dummett and fringe player Achraf Lazaar, who has made just 10 appearances for Newcastle in three years at St James’ Park, are Bruce’s only left-back options while Matt Ritchie was deployed out of his comfort zone as the left-sided wing-back by Benitez last season.
N’Soki is younger than all of these and has the potential to be a lot better if he continues to play regularly.
If Newcastle want to sign a left-back this summer – and they definitely should – they cannot go wrong with N’Soki.
