Newcastle United journalist Mark Douglas has discussed the future of defender Florian Lejeune.
The French defender, valued at £4.05m on Transfermarkt, spent last season on loan at Spanish side Alaves, where he made 36 appearances for them in all competitions. Before that, he was a rather frustrating figure for Newcastle United bosses to deal with, as he spent a lot of time out of the team dealing with various injuries.
And that season spent out on loan could merely be a precursor as to what is to become of him moving forward, as speaking on the Everything Is Black And White podcast, Douglas felt that the defender’s time at the club was close to coming to an end:
“Lejeune, I think they will look to move on. Just because I think that Steve Bruce had a chance to bring him back earlier this season, didn’t do that.
“So I think he’s kind of made his decision on Lejeune. And I think Lejeune will be made available again this summer, so I don’t think he’s necessarily going to come back, I don’t think he’s one of the ones they’re looking to bring back.”
TIF Thoughts on Mark Douglas’ comments on Florian Lejeune…
Would you keep Lejeune or sell him?
Keep him
Sell him
The chance to bring him back that Douglas was referring to was when Newcastle United were going through an injury crisis at the back and Bruce decided to let him play out the season in La Liga.
With Lejeune’s contract set to expire next summer, it does make sense for the club to start taking a look at shipping him out somewhere so that they can cash in on him whilst they still have the chance.
And when you consider the transfer budget that Mike Ashley has reportedly given Bruce to deal with this summer, every penny that can be raised in flogging excess players should be welcomed by those at the club.
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