News that Marseilles’ French International attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet could be sold this summer for a cut price of £6M, and it’s not surprising that Newcastle are interested in the 27 year-old.

Dimitri Payer – available in cut price deal



Newcastle were said to be interested in the winger last summer, but as we know Joe Kinnear couldn’t get anything done, except to get Loic Remy on loan for a season from QPR, which turned out to be good deal for both parties.

L’Equipe are reporting that the player could be made available for as little as £6M, which is half the price they paid Lille for the player last summer when he joined the south of France club.

The report suggests that Newcastle and Arsenal are both linked with the French international, which is a safe bet since those two clubs continually scan the French market for players.

But it could be a good opportunity for Newcastle to get a good player in at a very reasonable price, and last season Payet had 8 goals and 8 assists in 44 games in all competitions for Marseilles.

These are the type of unexpected opportunities that crop up in a transfer window, but clubs need to move quickly if a deal is to be completed.

According to the L’Equipe report, Marseilles have some financial problems and must recoup £4.8M by the end of the financial year – which is June 30th.

Payet could be the one sacrificed in the summer, because he was substituted a lot last season, and is probably the one that is disposable compared to other top players at the club such as Steve Mandanda, Mathieu Valbuena, Andre Ayew (another Newcastle target of last summer), and Nicolas N’Koulou.

Payet has played 7 times for France and 11 times with four goals for the French U21 side, but failed to make France’s World Cup squad for Brazil, and that tournament starts next month.

The 5′ 9″ winger previously played at Nantes and Saint Etienne, before moving to Lille in 2011.

There will be a number of suitors after the cut-price Payet, and as we said, it’s an opportunity for Newcastle, but only if we move quickly and decisively enough to get the winger.

Over to you Lee Charnley.

What do you think?

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