Newcastle United would need to smash their transfer record if they want to sign Aymen Abdennour - with Monaco reportedly holding out for more than £21 million for the defender. Get French Football News claim that, due to the huge interest in the centre-back, the Principality club are demanding 30 million (£21.3 million) for the Tunisian international. Barcelona, Juventus, Aston Villa and Roma are just four of the clubs alongside Newcastle that the French publication suggest have enquired about the defender this summer. They also claim that the Magpies had a bid turned down in June for the centre-back. On Monday, La Provence reported that the Magpies are close to securing a move for Marseilles Thauvin - with Remy Cabella potentially heading the other way on a season-long loan deal - and, once they have acquired the winger, they will turn their attention to Abdennour. Interestingly, last month Foot Mercato claimed that the Magpies had opened the expected bidding war for the centre-back by offering 17 million (£12 million) for the Tunisian international - although it seems Monaco want a far greater fee than that. The 25-year-old centre-back has been on Newcastles radar for several seasons having impressed at Toulouse and then Monaco in Ligue 1 but there are a long list of suitors queuing up to entice him away from the Stade Louis II. Capped 33 times by Tunisia, Abdennour is regarded as one of the most-consistent defensive performers in France - although it is also believed he has already made it to clear to Newcastle that he is not interested in moving to the North East. Having helped Monaco to third place in the table and to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Abdennours agent revealed a couple of weeks ago that the defender could look to move on should there be interest. The 6ft 2in centre-back started his career at toile du Sahel in his native Tunisia, spending six months on loan at Werder Bremen in 2010, before moving to Toulouse in 2011. A transfer to Monaco then followed last summer after an impressive six-month loan spell. In all he has made 140 league appearances, scoring eight times. 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.
