Newcastle United bidding to beat Red Bull Salzburg to wonderkid Mickael Nade

Newcastle United are reportedly in the running to sign French defender Mickael Nade, according to talkSPORT.

The Championship outfit, who currently sit joint-top of the league standings, despite Saturday’s disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Fulham, have been linked with AS Saint-Etienne’s highly-rated starlet this summer.

The 18-year-old, who has been likened to Chelsea centre-half Kurt Zouma, is yet to make his Ligue 1 debut for the French side, but is impressing for the club’s Under-19 squad.

The report suggests both Newcastle and Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg are keen on recruiting the talented defender ahead of the 2017-18 campaign, with Magpies manager Rafael Benitez hopeful of using the lure of Premier League football to help entice the Frenchman, if United win promotion come May.

Despite Nade being highly-regarded by Saint-Etienne, his current contract expires in June, meaning he is poised to become a free agent this summer, though Newcastle are understood to have already offered him professional terms at St James’ Park.