Player ‘top of short-list’ of Newcastle United – Magpies keen, contacted both agent and club

On January 7th, we carried a report from L’Equipe, who explained that Newcastle United are monitoring Benoît Badiashile ‘with interest’.

It was also explained the Magpies have ‘activated the network’ to work out the ‘feasibility’ to sign the AS Monaco player in the winter market.

The Tyneside club wanting to add the defender to their squad is also reported by Foot Mercato. The Premier League side are ‘eyeing’ the 20-year-old, who has been tracked for many years, ‘particularly in England’.

According to the report, Newcastle are ‘very interested’ in the France U21 international and have already contacted both the player’s entourage and the Ligue 1 side to know the conditions to carry out a transfer in the future.

It’s even claimed the centre-back is ‘at the top of the short-list’ drawn by the leaders of the English club and they could take action to sign him in the winter market. Badiashile has a contract at Stade Louis II until 2024.

After L’Equipe came out with a report of Newcastle’s interest on Friday, these claims are echoed by Foot Mercato. It remains to be seen whether Eddie Howe’s side can convince the player and Monaco for a transfer in January.