Back in February, we looked at claims that Newcastle were interested in Montpellier’s Ryad Boudebouz after L’Equipe suggested the Magpies could target the 27-year-old in the event of a promotion.
With the latter nearly secured, Rafa Benitez is likely to turn his attention to the summer transfer window in the coming weeks, and will be delighted to know that, according to France Football, a price has been set for the Ligue 1 playmaker.
The French newspaper report on Tuesday that Montpellier have decided €15m is a fair price for the man who has helped them out with 11 goals and nine assists this season.
Selling him at that price would represent a new club record, currently held by Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud, yet represents a very affordable fee for a club looking to avoid an immediate return to Championship by heavily bolstering its squad this summer.
Unable to save them from relegation towards the end of the 2015/16 season, Rafa Benitez, of all the managers in England’s second tier, knows what is needed to survive in the Premier League, and someone capable of both scoring and creating is likely to be on that list.
With Boudebouz ticking more than a few boxes, and with age still on his side, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Newcastle at least consider the Algeria international in the summer.
However, with the player keen on Champions League football, the north of England might not be too high on his personal list of future clubs.
