WISH YOU WOR HERE
Mbappe is Shear bliss
ALAN SHEARER has told Kylian Mbappe to light up the Premier League – at Newcastle.
The Tyneside club are expected to have up to £200m to invest in the medium term if they get the go-ahead from the Premier League for a £300m buyout by Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium.
That has led to Newcastle fans speculating on who their top takeover defining signings could be – with Toon’s all-time leading scorer Shearer raising the stakes and telling Mbappe to become a Geordie.
The Paris St-germain star, 21, is the most sought-after name in world football and pundits have been playing fantasy football predicting who Newcastle might be able to afford to sign with the backing of a sovereign fund like Saudi’s PIF.
Mbappe is likely to be way out of their reach, with a world record price tag and massive wages, but Shearer, giving an interview in France to Canal+, quipped: “I would very much like Kylian Mbappe to come.
“With his skill, the confidence he has in someone so young, and all the goals he scores, that would be a big plus for the Premier League.
“I only see one club for him – it’s Newcastle of course!”
Staveley’s consortium are working behind the scenes to wealth
■ discover who is available in the next window.
Newcastle will post a healthy profit in their accounts due this summer and even before extra investment, or player sales, will have
£60m to spend in a buyers’ market.
Gent’s £35m-rated Canadian international forward Jonathan David, 20, has been scouted and is on the hit list.
And a bargain recruit is also being considered in Nice midfielder Arnaud Lusamba, 23, who is out of contract. (left)