LIttle chance of a Reyes for Benitez as Mexican ace looks set to
SEVILLA remain interested in Newcastle United defender Florian Lejeune – but Rafa Benitez will resist any advances for the Frenchman this summer.
It is understood that the Magpies do not want to sell the 27-year-old, pictured above, who Benitez rates highly and believes can excel in the Premier League over the coming years.
In fact, Benitez actually wants to sign another centre-back in order to compete with Lejeune, Ciaran Clark and captain Jamaal Lascelles this season.
But the uncertainty surrounding Benitez’s own long-term future on Tyneside – the Spaniard has less than year left on his current deal, and has made his frustrations at United’s transfer policy clear again this week – has bolstered Sevilla’s belief they can lure Lejeune to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium before the end of the window.
Despite that, Sevilla will struggle to match Newcastle’s financial demands, even though the Spanish outfit have re-registered their interest in the defender. Torino’s Nicolas N’Koulou is an alternative option for the Ligue 1 club.
United paid Eibar £8.8million in order to sign Lejeune last year after activating a release clause in his contract – and they believe his price has at the very least doubled following an impressive second half to his debut Premier League campaign.
Given that the centre-back still has four years remaining on his Newcastle deal, the Magpies are confident they can keep hold of Lejeune this summer – and are keen to do so unless they receive an astronomical bid.
Benitez is still hoping to sign up to five further players this summer, including a right-back and a centrehalf. But, with less than three weeks before the Premier League’s January 9 transfer deadline, United are running out of time to bring in all his reinforcements. NEWCASTLE United forward Ayoze Perez still dreams of playing for Spain - and believes he can earn international recognition with the Magpies.
Given Spain’s struggles at the World Cup in Russia, where they were eliminated by the hosts at the last-16 stage, Perez could given an opportunity on the international stage in the coming years - should he continue to show the form he has during the first half of 2018.
Luis Enrique was appointed as Spain manager earlier this month, following Julen Lopetegui’s dismissal on the eve of the tournament for accepting the Real Madrid job, and it is understood the new boss will send scouts to report on Perez’s Newcastle performances.
Interestingly, Spain had hoped to appoint Newcastle manager Benitez on a short-term deal for the World Cup, something which the Magpies are believed to have been broadly receptive to.
With contract talks between Benitez and United at an impasse, the Magpies’ hierarchy were willing to allow their manager to guide Spain in Russia before returning to Tyneside to prepare Newcastle for NEWCASTLE United manager Rafa Benitez does want defensive reinforcements - but a deal for free agent Diego Reyes is looking unlikely at this stage.
The 25-year-old was released by Porto last month after his contract expired and the Mexico international is attracting interest from the 2018/19 Premier League campaign as they believed it could be a positive for all parties.
However, the approach came just days before the start of the tournament in Russia and so the complex nature of any potential deal proved to be far too complicated to negotiate in time.
Instead, Fernando Hierro took over the Spain national team, who were eliminated at the last-16 stage out in Russia, and then former Barcelona boss Enrique was appointed as manager for the Euro 2020 qualification campaign earlier this month.
During his unveiling as Spain manager this week, Enrique declared he was going to work from a “blank canvas” - and revealed he had written down the names of 70 players he is already considering for international selection.
According to sources in Spain, Perez’s name was on the list - as was former Magpies midfielder Mikel Merino, who left United for Real Sociedad in a £10million deal earlier this month.
Real Betis and Real Sociedad are Fenerbahce and West Ham United while Newcastle have also discussed Reyes’ name during transfer meetings.
However, Turkish outfit Fenerbahce are the favourites at this stage to sign the former Real Sociedad and Espanyol centre-back and Newcastle are focusing on other targets at the moment.
Benitez is still hoping to sign up to five further players this summer, among the Spanish clubs linked with the 24-year-old so far this summer as have Italian outfit Napoli - and they are believed to have enquired about him earlier in the window.
Last term, Perez finished as United’s top scorer with 10 goals in all competitions - including eight in the Premier League - while he also provided five assists. Perez insists he is “living the dream” at Newcastle, despite interest from elsewhere and believes if he continues to impress for United then he will play for Spain.
“That is still an aim for me, yes,” Perez told Chronicle Live when asked if he still harboured hopes of breaking into the Spain squad during an interview at United’s week-long training camp at Carton House. “If we keep the manager, if we keep growing as a team trying to make this club bigger and bigger then there is going to be a big chance for me and most of our team-mates to gain international recognition.
“If we keep growing up and building the team as we have to then there could be great years ahead - for Newcastle and, who knows, Spain too.” Ayoze Perez including a right-back and a centreback.Yet, with less than three weeks before the Premier League’s January 9 transfer deadline, United are running out of time to bring in all the reinforcements the Spaniard desires.
Chancel Mbemba could yet replace Reyes at Porto - but the Democratic Republic of Congo’s protracted transfer appears to be hampering United’s attempts to sign an alternative centre-back. Mbemba has no future at St James’ Park under Benitez.
He has not returned to Tyneside for pre-season and did not take part in United’s week-long training camp at Carton House in the Republic of Ireland last week.
However, Newcastle hope to recoup the £8million they paid Anderlecht for the defender two years ago - and a deal is yet to be