Newcastle want Ligue 1 midfield dynamo, a good deal?

New
manager
Eddie
Howe
is
expected
to
be
given
a
pretty
handsome
war
chest
to
improve
his
squad
as
the
Magpies
look
to
ensure
safety.

They
are
currently
lying
at
the
bottom
of
the
table
with
just
six
points
and
are
yet
to
win
their
first
game
of
the
Premier
League.

The
French
media
claim
that
the
Tyneside
club
have
identified
Lens
midfielder
Seko
Fofana
as
a
solution
to
their
woes
in
the
middle
of
the
park
with
the
Ivorian
joining
a
long
list
of
ambitious
Newcastle
United
targets
along
with
the
likes
of
Axel
Witsel,
Donny
van
de
Beek,
Weston
McKennie
among
others.

It
is
widely
presumed
that
the
Magpies
are
showing
an
interest
in
the
Ivorian
as
they
consider
their
options
ahead
of
the
January
transfer
window.

It
is
believed
that
AC
Milan
and
Marseille
are
among
the
other
clubs
keen
on
the
26-year-old,
whilst
Lens
will
only
cash
in
on
him
if
they
receive
a
huge
offer
as
they
do
not
want
to
lose
one
of
their
key
players
when
the
team
is
performing
so
well.

Franck
Haise’s
side
currently
occupy
the
second
place
in
Ligue
1
behind
Paris
Saint-Germain
and
Fofana
has
been
crucial
behind
their
brilliant
run
of
form.

Fofana
has
played
in
each
of
Lens’
13
games
this
season,
scoring
thrice
in
the
process.
The
prospect
of
finishing
the
season
in
Champions
League
places
might
lead
to
the
Ligue
1
side
blocking
any
potential
move
for
the
midfielder.
Fofana
is
exactly
the
kind
of
player
Newcastle
United
need
in
order
to
bring
energy
to
their
midfield,
something
the
Magpies
have
missed
since
they
lost
Moussa
Sissoko,
a
player
Fofana
resembles
with
in
terms
of
playing
style.

Blessed
with
a
frame
of
6
ft
1
in
and
a
solid
physique,
Fofana
comes
with
all
the
physical
attributes
of
a
modern-day
box
to
box
midfielder
and
he
is
also
pretty
impressive
on
the
ball.

Fofana
is
fourth
in
Ligue
1
this
season
in
terms
of
distance
covered
with
143.5
kilometres.
He
is
also
incredibly
fast
and
clocked
in
at
35.3
kilometres
per
hour
as
his
top
speed
last
season.
It
goes
without
saying
that
Fofana
comes
with
some
qualities
other
Newcastle
midfielders
miss
out
on
and
he
could
bring
much-needed
dynamism
and
tenacity
at
the
heart
of
midfield.

Fofana,
on
paper,
looks
like
someone
who
can
help
the
Magpies
improve
significantly
and
fend
of
relegation
threats
which
would
be
extremely
crucial
for
them
as
they
look
to
build
for
the
future.
If
available
for
the
right
price,
this
deal
would
be
a
no-brainer
from
the
point
of
view
of
Eddie
Howe’s
side.