Newcastle United are reportedly considering a January transfer swoop for highly-rated LOSC Lille midfielder Yusuf Yazici.
According to Turkish outlet Sabah, Newcastle United are interested in LOSC Lille midfielder Yusuf Yazici as they seek midfield reinforcements in the winter transfer market opening this weekend. The St. James’ Park outfit have identified the Turkish international as a potential addition to boost their midfield ranks and are weighing up a formal bid for the talented and versatile star.
The Magpies are expected to be one of the busiest clubs in the upcoming winter transfer window, especially given their current predicament at the bottom-end of the Premier League table. Indeed, the club’s affluent new owners are poised to back Eddie Howe in the market.
The Tyneside outfit have been linked with many players from all across Europe, and they might want to strengthen several positions on the pitch, including midfield. The names keep flooding in the Toon rumour mill, and the latest to join the long list of targets is Lille’s attacking midfielder Yazici.
After progressing through the youth ranks at Trabzonspor, the 24-year-old made over eighty league appearances for his boyhood club before moving to Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille in 2019 for a then club-record €17.5 million transfer fee. He had a mediocre debut campaign that was curtailed by a season-ending injury.
However, the Turkish playmaker flourished at the French club last campaign, notching 14 goals and 6 assists from 42 appearances in all competitions and playing a vital part in the Les Dogues’ side that upset the odds by beating French heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 crown.
The 24-year-old, though, has struggled for playing time this term and managed under 600 minutes of footballing action across all competitions. He is not favoured by new manager Jocelyn Gourvennec and looks set to leave the club next month in search of regular playing minutes.
Such a scenario has attracted interest from clubs in his homeland in the shape of Galatasaray, who are keen to bring back the player to the Turkish Super League. However, Lille have given the transfer priority to newly-rich Newcastle while Russian outfit CSKA Moscow are also keeping a close watch on the situation.
Though Newcastle earned a good point against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw, the game left a bitter taste as their biggest attacking threats, Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin, hobbled off with injuries, with the former potentially sidelined for months.
Howe’s side desperately need more attacking firepower to have any hopes of survival this season. To that end, Yazici would be a smart low-key signing, who will add creativity and killer instincts to the side. Primarily an attacking midfielder, he is most effective while playing as a second striker but is tremendously versatile and capable of playing out-wide if required.
He will provide a different dynamism to Newcastle’s attack since he is left-footed, technically gifted and boasts a powerful shot while having a sharp eye for goal. The Turk has excellent close control and ball-progression abilities while he possesses the vision to operate effortlessly between the lines and create space for others.
Contracted until 2024 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille value their prized asset at €20 million and are open to a loan exit. Whether Newcastle come up with an attractive offer to land the Turk remains to be seen.
