Newcastle United bidding to beat Red Bull Salzburg to wonderkid Mickael Nade
5 August 2016 - Sky Bet Championship - Fulham v Newcastle United - Rafael Benitez Manager of Newcastle United - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.
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.