Newcastle United have joined the race for Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam - with Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea already battling it out for his signature. The Times (paywall) claim that the Magpies are looking to add the Algerian international left-back to their ranks this summer, with Napoli looking to recoup about £7 million for Ghoulam. The 24-year-old played for Algeria at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and now-Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez was a big fan of the left-back when he was head coach of Napoli last season. Capped 11 times by Algeria, the French-born defender has scored one international goal and it came earlier this year against South Africa during the Africa Cup of Nations. Ghoulam started his career at Saint-Etienne, where he came up through the youth ranks and made 97 appearances for the Ligue 1 side between 2010 and 2014, scoring once. In January 2014 Ghoulam moved to Napoli, however, and he made 60 appearances for Benitez in a season-and-a-half, greatly impressing in Serie A. That has brought him to the attention of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle, with the Magpies' chief scout Graham Carr believed to be a big fan of Ghoulam. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
