Newcastle United are reportedly plotting an ambitious January transfer swoop for Paris Saint-Germain star Idrissa Gueye.
According to fresh reports from The Athletic, Newcastle United are pondering an audacious January move for Senegalese defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, who joined the French giants in 2019, is being linked with a move to Tyneside. Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is reportedly keen on bolstering his midfield ranks and wants to add experience to that area of the squad.
The Magpies are looking to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window as they continue to fight for survival in the Premier League. As if the task was any easier, the Toon have suffered injuries to key players in Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson and Federico Fernandez, with the latter duo sidelined for months, highlighting the significance of bringing in new players.
Although the injuries are piling up also in the attacking department, bringing in defenders and midfielders remains the priority for the Tyneside outfit. Eddie Howe and his recruitment team at Newcastle are weighing up moves for a host of players in January. And it seems the PSG duo of Idrissa Gueye and Georginio Wijnaldum have surfaced as prospective targets.
The Toon have recently been linked with a sensational swoop for their former star Gini Wijnaldum, with the 31-year-old keen on the reunion. However, another name that is being discussed inside Newcastle United’s recruiting department is Wijnaldum’s PSG teammate Idrissa Gueye.
Regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in Ligue 1, the 79-time capped Senegalese international has proved to be a success story in the French capital. He played a crucial part in Les Parisiens Champions League run to the final in the 2019/20 campaign. He was far less impressive the following campaign racking up only 20 starts in the league, and was majorly a utility player.
The 32-year-old, though, has enjoyed a bit of renaissance this term, having started 12 of PSG’s 19 league games this season. He has been a key part of Mauricio Pochettino’s side. However, the French club may be open to a sale given his advancing age as they look to make room for AC Milan ace Franck Kessie, who is reportedly in advanced talks ahead of a potential Bosman move to the French capital next summer.
As per the report, Newcastle are now considering offering the former Aston Villa and Everton midfielder a route back to the Premier League, with Howe rating the 32-year-old’s experience in England’s top flight. The tough-tackling Senegalese enforcer would undoubtedly want a higher wage packet, but Newcastle, with newfound wealth, have the clout to meet his demands.
He would undoubtedly be an upgrade on the likes of Sean Longstaff and Jeff Hendrick, while his defensive robustness will allow Jonjo Shelvey to be more creative in the final third. With the only defensive midfielder Isaac Hayden set to miss the next two months after knee surgery, signing a new No. 6 is essential.
Having tasted relegation with Aston Villa in 2015/16, Gueye boasts the experience of rigours when embroiled in a relegation scrap. Interestingly, he snubbed the proposal to join Newcastle on a six-month loan earlier this year. Whether the Magpies could convince the Senegalese this time around remains to be seen.
