Lots of Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media to reports by the Sunday People, via Leicester Mercury, claiming we have approached Leicester City over a loan deal for midfielder Hamza Choudhury.
Loughborough-born Choudhury has struggled to forge a key role for himself in Brendan Rodgers’ plans this season, as he jousts with Nigeria star Wilfred Ndidi for minutes in the Foxes’ chase for Champions League football.
Rodgers is reluctant to allow Choudhury to leave the King Power Stadium this month, despite only starting the 22-year-old six times in the Premier League so far this term, as his side currently sit three points behind Manchester City in the fight for second place.
Leicester have received enquiries as to Choudhury’s availability, though, with United and Burnley said to have approached City regarding temporary deals.
A move to St. James’ Park could be rather surprising given his antics in the North East last summer, when his “horror challenge” on Matt Ritchie left the wing-back’s ankle in a mess and Steve Bruce fuming.
Ritchie only made his return from the ankle injury in our FA Cup Third Round trip to Rochdale earlier this month, and is yet to start in the Premier League since the blow.
Would you sign Choudhury on loan?
Yes
No
Choudhury was one of the first names on Rodgers’ teamsheet at the time of the incident, which only resulted in a yellow card, but has been in-and-out of City’s starting XI since.
The £9million-rated defensive midfielder has only started two top-flight games since September, though scored his only goal of the term against us from the bench on New Year’s Day.
Choudhury is contracted to the King Power Stadium natives until 2023 on a £7,500-per-week deal penned last summer, having impressed Rodgers in the back-end of the 2018/19 campaign.
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to reports of the club making enquiries into signing Choudhury on loan…
Hope not, can’t stand him
— Rich 🏴 (@Pedgrift4) January 19, 2020
Ritchie will be waiting, corner flag in hand
— Sam James (@samjdb2) January 19, 2020
Is this a joke? #ritchie #radge #NUFC
— Dean Burns (@deanoburns) January 19, 2020
Ndidi is injured. Why would they loan out Hamza?
— chetan chohan (@ChetanChohan7) January 19, 2020
No thanks
— Scott ⚫⚪ (@Scottftbl) January 19, 2020
Not a popular move…🤔
— glyn geordie williams 🌹 (@GdwGlyn) January 19, 2020
The player that badly injured Ritchie, no thanks
— 🆎🤙 (@BlackAliblack1) January 19, 2020
Thought we hated him 🤔
— mark 88 (@markste76948257) January 19, 2020
Only if Ritchie gets to volley his Afro off
— Roman (@AndrewK67647299) January 19, 2020
Nope. Unless it’s just so Ritchie has someone to take his anger out on 😂
— Joni #NUFC ⚫⚪⚫⚪ (@KingOfTNorth) January 19, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, a rumoured target is ‘getting ready to say goodbye’ to his current side ahead of a January switch to St. James’ Park.