Report: Newcastle keen on La Liga defender, club set £13.1m asking price
By Derek Smithson
Newcastle are interested in signing Valencia defender Aymen Abdennour, according to a report.
French outlet Foot Mercato claim that the Magpies are keen on the 27-year-old centre-back from La Liga and could face competition from Premier League rivals Everton for his signature.
It is understood that the Tunisia international could be sold in the summer, but Valencia have set an asking price of £13.1million.
Abdennour is still under contract with the Spanish club until 2020, but they are prepared to sell him on just two years after his arrival from Monaco.
The defender endured a frustrating campaign last year and made just 14 appearances across all competitions, with injuries and national team duty halting his progress.
He played a much more prominent role in the 2015/16 campaign by playing 29 times and also has Champions League experience under his belt.
Abdennour is a highly rated talent that’s played for the likes of Valencia, Monaco, Toulouse and Werder Bremen, but has never tested himself in English football before.
Football Insider verdict:
Newcastle certainly need to bolster their defensive options in the summer to help support the likes of Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Chancel Mbemba. Rafael Benitez needs a player with top-flight experience and someone that can walk straight into the starting line-up. Abdennour has shown in the past his qualities by playing in the Champions League and racking up 57 international caps for Tunisia. He is in the prime of his career and is available from Valencia at the right price. However, the £13.1million fee would certainly be a risk for Newcastle as he has never played in England and is injury-prone. The north-east club would be better served chasing a proven Premier League defender.
In other Newcastle transfer news, they have made an enquiry for a Liverpool midfielder.
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