Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has confirmed the club’s interest in Olympique Lyonnais striker Bafetimbi Gomis, Sky Sports understands.
Gomis, 27, has been linked with a summer exit from the Stade de Gerland amid reported interest from a number of English clubs, including the likes of Aston Villa, Cardiff City and Swansea City.
Only three players, Darío Cvitanich, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, scored more goals in Ligue 1 than Gomis last season.
“We have expressed an interest in Gomis,” Pardew told The Times.
“We think that he’s a player who has great potential.
“He’s a French international who’s played at the highest level for his club.”
The France international, who bagged 20 goals and five assists in 44 appearances in all competitions for Les Gones last season, has been blamed for the sale of highly-rated France Under-18 forward Anthony Martial.
Martial, 17, left Olympique Lyonnais for newly-promoted AS Monaco FC for a fee of €5 million due to the inability of Gomis to negotiate a move away from OL.
Gomis is surplus to requirements at the Stade de Gerland, with manager Rémi Garde able to choose from a bevy of capable attackers, including Alexandre Lacazette, Clinton N’Jie, Harry Novillo, Jimmy Briand, Lisandro Lopez, Mohamed Yattara and Yassine Benzia.
In other news, the long-term future of Papiss Demba Cissé is in doubt with the Senegal international having left the Magpies’ tour after refusing to wear club’s Wonga-branded shirt.
Blanc wants deep squad
Paris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc wants to keep the likes of Mamadou Sakho, Marco Verratti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the Parc des Princes, according to Sky Sports.
Sakho, 23, was unhappy with his playing time under Carlo Ancelotti last term.
The arrival of Marquinhos from A.S. Roma for a transfer fee of £27 million should not please the 23-year-old centre-back, who desperately wants to represent France at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next summer.
“I had a talk with Mamadou, which he asked for,” said Blanc.
“Everything is very clear. If PSG are to become a great club, players have to understand that there will be great players in every position. It is then a competition to become a first team member. I believe Mamadou is receptive to that.”
Sakho, who won 3.1 aerial duels per match last term, scored two goals in 27 league appearances for PSG in 2012/13.
Blanc also hopes to retain the services of Marco Verratti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“I have no doubt he [Verratti] will stay. I have spoken with him and I consider him to be part of PSG this season,” added Blanc.
“There are many rumours but he has a contract and I don’t think he will leave Paris. I like him a lot as a player and I don’t think he would want to leave.
“Rumours about Ibrahimovic going will go on until the end of the summer window, just like they will for Thiago Silva.
“I am sure he will stay. That is what he has told me. He can complement Edinson Cavani well. Then it will be about managing egos.”
The French moneybags have spent over €100 million recruiting the likes of Edinson Cavani, Lucas Digne and Marquinhos to the Parc des Princes this summer.
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