Newcastle United will have to break their transfer record if they want to sign Olympique Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, as per The Chronicle.
Batshuayi was on target in Marseille’s 1-1 draw with Ajaccio at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to an impressive 11 goals in 18 appearances.
The Belgian’s scintillating form with the Ligue 1 side has reportedly captured the eye of a number of top European clubs, with Juventus, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur believed to be amongst the sides vying to acquire the powerful 23-year-old’s signature in January.
Amid the growing interest in their prized asset, Marseille president Vincent Labrune has conceded that the French club’s lack of financial muscle means they will be powerless to stand in Batshauyi’s way should they receive an acceptable bid in the upcoming window:
“If I could offer him Euros 700,000 a month, I would, but that’s impossible.”
The Chronicle claim that Batshuayi is currently valued at £21million – a price that surpasses the £16million club record fee Newcastle shelled out for legendary striker Alan Shearer back in 1996.
Despite the Belgian’s hefty price tag, the Magpies did show that they are willing to loosen their purse-strings over the summer by spending more than £50million to bring top European talents Georginio Wijnaldum, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Florian Thauvin to Tyneside.
With the huge financial incentives on offer for teams that can retain their Premier League status ahead of next season’s record-breaking television deal, Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley may be tempted to splash out again in January to strengthen Steve McClaren’s temperamental squad.
