Newcastle United’s summer transfer budget remains up in the air.
They have yet to have confirmation from the Premier League for their takeover from the Saudi Arabian-backed Public Investment Fund.
Should it go through, they will instantly become one of the richest clubs in world football but, as yet, it hasn’t happened.
Nevertheless, reports continue to circulate around Newcastle’s potential signings in the transfer window.
Le10Sport claims that they, along with French giants PSG, are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Watford are interested, too, as are West Ham United, AC Milan, and OGC Nice.
Bakayoko has spent the season on loan at AS Monaco, making 23 appearances in all competitions, but he is set to return to the Blues once the season ends.
The 25-year-old moved to the west London club in 2017 from the Ligue 1 club he has spent the campaign with, costing Chelsea a total of £40 million.
He is valued at £22.95m by Transfermarkt and has played just 43 times for the Blues.
Newcastle aren’t as big a club as PSG, though they would be able to offer the Frenchman regular first-team football.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
One has to wonder about the wisdom of this interest.
Bakayoko clearly wasn’t cut out for life at Chelsea and it appears as though his real level is in the French top-flight.
Per WhoScored, he won 2.2 tackles per game in the Premier League, 1.3 interceptions, 1.7 fouls, is dribbled past 1.1 times, and had 1.4 unsuccessful touches.
Those are not really statistics of a genuine star, and Newcastle ought to be careful here.
A move for Bakayoko could be indicative of a buying club being blinded by his CV instead of his performances.
As his numbers show, he isn’t really good enough.