Newcastle held ‘meetings’ with club ‘this weekend’ over €40m transfer – ‘Solid financial arguments’

Needing some help pretty much all throughout his squad, Eddie Howe has set the wheels in motions for a few January transfers at Newcastle United.

Among those being looked at is Benoit Badiashile, currently contracted to AS Monaco, who is attracting a lot of interest from the Premier League.

While Wolverhampton Wanderers were the ones to make the first move, it’s now Newcastle’s turn to make an approach, or at least prepare one.

That’s what L’Equipe are reporting on Tuesday, also reminding their readers the player came off injured against Nantes at the weekend with a muscle problem ‘that will keep him away from the field until early March’.

It’s stated Newcastle have ‘accelerated over the past few days’, with ‘meetings between the board of AS Monaco and representatives of the English clubs taking place, especially this weekend’.

The Magpies are said to be ‘arriving with solid financial arguments’ and the ‘potential offer outlined would be around €40m’.

This all happened before the player’s injury, and the question is asked ‘if the bid can still stand’ now that he’s out.

The answer? ‘Doubtful’.

The reason is because Newcastle need players now to help them in their relegation battle, and having to wait until March for a player they would spend €40m on could be costly.