Newcastle targeting summer move for Leganes midfielder Gabriel Pires

Championship winners Newcastle United are considering a summer move for Leganes midfielder Gabriel Pires, according to reports (via Sport Witness).

The 23-year-old, formerly of Juventus, enjoyed a fine season in La Liga following his permanent move from Turin last summer, netting five times and laying on two assists in 34 league appearances to help Leganes to 17th place in the table, four points clear of the bottom three.

Pires did spend the 2015/16 campaign on loan at the Spanish outfit, netting eight goals and laying on four assists, before making the move permanent last summer, and his decent form at Leganes has reportedly attracted interest from Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle.

The North East giants will return to the Premier League next season after clinching automatic promotion from the Championship this term, finishing a point ahead of Chris Hughton’s Brighton at the summit, and nine points clear of Reading in third.

And the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Benitez is already planning for life in the top tier by lining up a move for Pires, which could see the Magpies chief activate his release clause this summer, believed to be between €6 and €7 million.

Newcastle were reportedly interested in the 23-year-old back in January but no deal materialised, but with Premier League football now a huge selling point, Pires could be tempted into a move to England this summer.