Eibar search for Lejeune’s replacement
EIBAR have started to source alternatives for £8.7million defender Florian Lejeune and anticipate the French centre-back will leave for Newcastle imminently.
The centre-back wants to join United and the two clubs have been in contact again this week as a move for the player moves closer.
Spanish sources claim Eibar expect the Magpies to trigger the ¤10million release clause very soon – with the La Liga club now looking to replace Lejeune, who has told friends he will move to Tyneside to hook up with Rafa Benitez’s side.
Indeed, the Eibar hierachy have been briefing the move will be concluded “within days.”
There was a hope it could be done this week but United sources played down talk of a deal by the weekend as the clubs continue to talk over the exact details of the fee and how a deal will be structured.
Eibar knocked back a United offer of paying the deal in several stages, which has been the preferred method of the La Liga club in the past.
There is a release clause in Lejeune’s contract which Eibar have told Newcastle to trigger to spark the move – something which had not been done at the time of writing.
When it is, the move should progress quickly, with the player’s personal terms not a problem and the medical nothing more than a formality.
Rafa Benitez wants players in before pre-season, which kicks off in a couple of weeks, but was knocked back over forward Tammy Abraham.
It i s understood that is partly down to first-team assurances Swansea offered which Newcastle were not prepared to do. The striker was not the Magpies’ main forward target during the window.
United have made a number of enquiries this week as they plot moves for up to eight players this summer.
They anticipate further outgoings next week, too.