---
title: "Newcastle: Journo drops Fofana transfer claim"
canonical: "https://readnewcastle.com/2022/11/28/newcastle-journo-drops-35m-transfer-claim-fofana-transfer-champions-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Samuel Slaney"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2022-11-28T17:32:22Z"
modified: "2022-11-28T17:32:23Z"
---

# Newcastle: Journo drops Fofana transfer claim

Newcastle United may look to swoop in for Ligue 1 midfielder Seko Fofana if RC Lens cannot meet his ambitions.

That is according to [Robin Bairner](https://www.givemesport.com/88086745-newcastle-transfer-news-surely-interested-deal), who believes that Fofana could look to depart Lens if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Speaking to [GIVEMESPORT](https://www.givemesport.com/88086745-newcastle-transfer-news-surely-interested-deal), Bairner said: *“If Lens make the Champions League this year, for example, you could see a player like Seko Fofana staying there, simply because of this bond that they’ve got.*

*“If they don’t make the top three, then again, potentially next summer, this could be a move that happens. Fofana is a player who has all the attributes to play in England, and Newcastle would surely be interested.*

*“But I imagine he is a player that most teams in England would be interested in, given what he’s produced. But again, it’s a case of whether Lens can keep up with his ambitions.”*

## **A big ask**

Despite finishing [seventh](https://www.fotmob.com/teams/8588/history/lens) in Ligue 1 last term, Lens will be expected to stick in and around the top three positions according to Bairner, which will be a tough ask in itself.

And ironically, Newcastle find themselves in a similar position.

Sitting in [third](https://www.fotmob.com/teams/10261/overview/newcastle-united), the Magpies will be looking to achieve a similar feat to Lens, with Champions League football proving more than illustrious from a player perspective.

There are a couple of factors that could sway the player to make the switch, so it’s a ‘wait and see’ type of scenario for the Ivory Coast midfielder who sits as Lens’ [third-most influential attacking asset](https://www.fotmob.com/teams/8588/stats/lens/players) this season with [three goals and two assists](https://www.fotmob.com/players/602211/seko-fofana) from 13 games.