Arsenal, Newcastle ‘could launch attack’ to sign former Liverpool target for €30m
Newcastle United and Arsenal could reportedly battle it out for the signing of Real Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir.
Fekir has been in Spain since leaving Lyon for a reported €19.75million fee in 2019.
The Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool before sealing a move to the La Liga club.
After shining for Lyon before sustaining several injuries, Fekir has played 129 times for Betis, scoring 25 goals.
He has 25 appearances for France after making his debut in 2015 but has not played for his country since 2020.
As well as Liverpool, Arsenal have been linked with Fekir, as have Newcastle since they were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
According to Transfermarkt, Fekir is worth €40m.
A move to Arsenal is surely unlikely at this stage given the fact they have Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and summer signing Fabio Vieira.
However, Fichajes say they are interested in signing the French attacking midfielder.
A move to Newcastle is more realistic, although their transfer philosophy under PIF indicates they will not pursue Fekir.
Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak have been the club’s marquee signings over the last year.
Fichajes previously reported that the Magpies are willing to pay €45m to sign Fekir.
Fekir, as an injury-prone 29-year-old, is probably not a desirable signing for clubs like Arsenal and Newcastle.
You get the feeling that if Fekir was going to move to the Premier League, it would have happened already.
However, I did say the same thing about Kalidou Koulibaly, who signed for Chelsea in the summer.
The Fichajes report claims that Betis would be willing to sell the Frenchman for €30m.
Betis are apparently struggling financially and could look to cash in on their star player.
The La Liga club were interested in signing Hector Bellerin from Arsenal in the summer transfer window after a successful loan spell last term, but could not muster up enough cash to sign him.
After months of trying to sign Bellerin on a free transfer, he joined his former club Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb report that Fekir is ‘open’ to joining Newcastle.
Fekir’s age is apparently putting Newcastle off and both clubs are around €10m apart in their valuation.
There are a number reports linking the player with a move to St James’ Park, and as they say, there is no smoke without fire.
However, Estadio Deportivo have said there is no way Betis and Fekir will part ways.
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