On Thursday, France Football backed up previous French claims, from TF1, that Newcastle United hold an interest in Jonathan Bamba.
The Saint-Etienne forward spent the second half of last season on loan at Angers, scoring 4 goals and making 2 assists. Angers would like to keep the 21 year old for longer, but L’Equipe report on Friday that Saint-Etienne aren’t keen.
ASSE are under some pressure, with Bamba’s contract ending in June 2018, and Angers will know they’ve perhaps got a better chance of a loan if the player extends, but that still depends on Saint-Etienne not wanting him in their side next season.
Another problem for Angers is Newcastle United, with the Premier League club able to trounce them on wages. Should Rafael Benitez put pressure on for Bamba to be signed, 
then wages are something the player would be able to increase hugely in England, and an understandable temptation.
Convincing ASSE may be harder, however, if they struggle for that renewal then there’s a reasonable chance. This one is all up in the air, but when it comes to money, Newcastle United’s wage offering would certainly be much weightier.
