Wednesday, 22nd June, 2011
Reports from France suggest that Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is set to launch a move for Saint-Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
Pardew has been raiding French football at will since landing in the dugout at St. James’ Park and has already added midfielder Yohan Cabaye and winger Sylvain Marveaux to countryman Hatem Ben Arfa, signed last summer from Marseille.
Now though France Football have confirmed that the English club appear to be stepping up their efforts to swoop for midfield enforcer Matuidi.
The 24-year-old has long been linked with an exit from the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, but no club has managed to tempt Saint-Etienne to cash in on the French international.
Now though Newcastle are ready to firm up their interest and make Saint-Etienne an offer they will find difficult to refuse. Matuidi himself is known to be keen on a move to the Premier League and the North East club, boasting so many of his countrymen, could make the task of adapting to a new brand of football an easier prospect.
Pardew’s interest in Ligue 1’s stars does not end at Matuidi however, with the former West Ham manager also keen on Paris Saint-Germain striker Mevlut Erding.
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