Phillips tips Newcastle to make ‘perfect’ Fofana signing in January after contact reported
Kevin Phillips has claimed Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana would be a “great signing” for Newcastle.
The 2000 European Golden Shoe winner, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 20-year-old could “grow with the club” as the Magpies aim to progress up the Premier League table in coming seasons.
As reported by RMC Sport on Tuesday (October 12th), Newcastle have made contact with Fofana’s entourage ahead of a potential move for the Frenchman in January.
The former Saint-Etienne defender has been sidelined since August after fracturing his fibula in pre-season.
Fofana joined Leicester just last summer for a reported £36.5million.
Newcastle are readying a January spending spree after Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium completed a £305million buyout of the club last week.
Phillips suggested players with significant “potential to grow”, like Fofana, are the types of signings the Tyneside club should be targetting.
“Moving forward for Newcastle now, this is the type of player they’ve got to be targeting,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He’s young, he has the potential to grow with the club and they can get a good five or six years out of him.
“He’s versatile as well, he can play across the backline.
“If they could go out and get him it would be a great signing – he would improve the squad straight away.
“I think the defence is an area where Newcastle need to focus their attention on in January. It’s pretty clear to see that.”
Fofana made 28 appearances in the Premier League for the Foxes last season.
He also starred as Leicester stormed to a first-ever FA Cup triumph against Chelsea in the final last season.
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