Newcastle United had a €10million bid rejected for Lassana Diarra by Marseille in January, according to French publication Journal du Dimanche [via Sport Witness].
Marseille were unprepared to allow Diarra, 31, to depart in the January window, but according to the report, the Frenchman has a ‘verbal agreement’ with Vincente Labrune to leave the Stade Vélodrome this summer.
Newcastle are unlikely to revive their interest in the former Real Madrid midfielder, but Lassana will not be short of suitors – with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain reportedly short-listing Diarra as a potential replacement for Thiago Motta.
Diarra was handed a lifeline by Marseille last summer, to put an end to his Russian nightmare, which he grasped with both hands. Since signing for Les Phocéens, he has averaged 2.9 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game, as well as a pass completion of 86.8%.
His fine form certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed. As well as attracting interest from PSG and Newcastle, Diarra has also been recalled to the French national team by Didier Deschamps.
Newcastle remain in the market for a defensive midfielder, with Cheick Tiote expected to depart from St James’ Park this summer – regardless of what league they’re in next season.
Should the Magpies secure Premier League football for another season, Aston Villa’s Idrissa Gueye should top their wish-list.
Gueye, 26, is a player in a similar mould to Leicester’s midfield anchor N’Golo Kante, who boasts the second most tackles in the Premier League this season; more interceptions per game than Kante, with a higher pass completion.
Having a defensive shield: sitting deep, snuffing out counter-attack threats and recycling possession – moving the ball laterally and offering very little offensively will be key to Jonjo Shelvey’s success next season.
Gueye’s tactical discipline would allow Shelvey to focus almost entirely on controlling possession and initiating attacking moves. When he is given such freedom in midfield, he is able to unlock defences before they are allowed a chance to settle, as the Geordie faithful have seen on several occasions this season.
