OPINION
Serie A side Genoa are reportedly interested in luring Newcastle outcast Achraf Lazaar back to the top tier of Italian football just a year after he joined the Toon from Palermo.
Evening Chronicle reporter Lee Ryder claimed on his personal Twitter account that Genoa official are to jet over to Newcastle in order to thrash out a deal to sign the 25-year-old.
It is said that the Morocco international Lazaar has been working hard at Newcastle’s academy in order to keep fit this summer, and it could have paid off with Genoa now looking to lure the left-footed ace back to Italy.
Genoa officials are flying over to Newcastle for talks with Achraf Lazaar. He's been working hard to maintain fitness at the Academy. #nufc
— Lee Ryder (@lee_ryder) August 17, 2017
Lazaar made just nine appearances for Newcastle last season as he joined from Palermo towards the end of August as cover for Wales international Paul Dummett.
However, he failed to adapt to the physical rigours of the Championship and has since been reportedly told that he can leave the club along with a handful of players.
The Evening Chronicle claimed in a report that Tim Krul, Grant Hanley, Massadio Haidara, Henri Saivet and Manu Riviere have been told to find a new club along with Lazaar, while the club is willing to listen to offers for Karl Darlow and Jack Colback.
Here, This Is Futbol considers whether Newcastle will regret selling Lazaar to Genoa, and if a deal between the two sides is likely to be reached.
Good move for Newcastle?
The only way Benitez is going to add further to his squad this summer is by selling his Toon outcasts in order to raise funds for new first-team stars.
Lazaar is one of those, and after Newcastle lured Javier Manquillo to Tyneside this summer, Lazaar has fallen even further down the pecking order behind the likes of Dummett, Manquillo and Ciaran Clark.
The Toon must look to get as much as they can for Lazaar, who cost around £3million last August. If they can get anywhere near that fee then Benitez will deem such a move as good business after a disappointing 2016-17 campaign.
Lazaar has no future at St. James’ Park and he is simply not cut out for English football. A move away from the Toon would benefit all parties involved.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.
Likely to happen?
As the Chronicle’s report states, Lazaar is just one of a handful of names that have been told to find a new club with a fortnight remaining in the summer transfer window.
Genoa seem keen to lure him back to the top flight of Italian football, and with officials travelling to the north east of England in an attempt to lure Lazaar to Italy, a deal is likely to be concluded with all parties keen.
The only stumbling block is likely to be the transfer fee, with Newcastle likely to want to recuperate as much of the fee spent on Lazaar last summer.
Both sides should be able to come to an agreement and a deal is likely to occur, with Lazaar and Newcastle keen to sell and Genoa seemingly interested in landing Laazar’s signature.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.