Recent reports suggested Marseille front man Michy Batshuayi had caught the interest of Newcastle United, with an initial £15 million bid being placed. Today the deal looks all but lost as (reported by Squwaka’s twitter account) Marseille announced that the Belgian has signed a new 5 year deal taking him up to 2020 with the French side.
It’s becoming very obvious to everyone connected with the club that goalscoring and finishing is a major issue, as highlighted specifically in the game against Arsenal. Newcastle deserved a point if not all 3, both Gini Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic failed to find the net at key points in the game.
Batshuayi is enoying a succesful season with Marseille in front of goal, although they currently sit in 10th place in Ligue 1. The-22-year old has scored 11 goals this season and provided 5 assists, more than any other Marseille player. Batshuayi also has a very impressive 60% shot accuracy so far this term, something that will have certainly been a key factor in placing a substantial bid for the Belgian striker.
This was believed to be Newcastle’s main transfer target, above Charlie Austin as per many newspapers. Today’s news will be a shocking blow to the Newcastle hierarchy, as a 5 year deal rules out any near future transfers for the hitman. Furthermore The Mirror’s reported £19m bid for Alexandre Lacazette seems to have failed to materialise. Mainly due to the lack of interest Lacazette has of joining the club’s relegation fight in the Premier league, despite Chairman of Lyon Jean Michel Aulas believing the bid to be a ‘good starting offer’.
Will we sign a goalscorer desperately needed in our bid for Premier League status in 2016/17?
