Newcastle are among a number of potential suitors tracking Metz academy prospect Nicolas Basin, according to French news outlet Foot Mercato.
The 16-year-old, who’s touted as the ‘next David Alaba’, has attracted interest from top clubs across Europe after impressing for Les Grenats under the watchful eye of scouts from several clubs.Nicolas’ most notable traits are considered to be his dribbling and crossing, that are said to be ‘well beyond his years’. Fulham, Schalke and Wolfsburg are said to be among those interested in the young defender.
As it stands, Basin is yet to sign a professional contract with his current employers meaning, if Newcastle were to swoop, they would only have to cough up a small compensation fee.
This move would be the latest in a long line of transfers from France to Tyneside in recent years for Newcastle. The club has a strong rapport with Basin’s parent club FC Metz, who we dealt with in the summer of 2013 in a move to sign fellow youth prospect and France U19 captain Olivier Kemen, who’s recently started training with the first-team squad.
