Newcastle United are plotting a January move to sign SC Amiens captain Prince Gouano, according to Le10 Sport.
The Paris-born centre-half has not featured in Ligue 1 since the third matchday of the season through a virus, but is believed to have remained on the radar of multiple Premier League sides.
West Ham United, Watford and we are all thought to have signalled our intent to strike a deal with Amiens this month, and it is unlikely that Gouano will remain at the Stade de la Licorne for the remainder of the French top-flight campaign.
Amiens have struggled for form without their captain at the back, with Luke Elsner’s side without a win in Ligue 1 since November 2 when they recorded their fourth victory of the term.
Results have meant Les Licornes are threatened with the prospect of relegation into Ligue 2, as Amiens are just five points clear of the automatic relegation places and a minus-15 goal difference leaves them in the Play-Off place below FC Metz.
Gouano started each of his 30 Ligue 1 appearances from a possible 38 last season, and scored his only goal of the campaign to seal a 2-1 win over Stade Rennais in September.
The 26-year-old could not find the net in his three outings of the current season, but recorded 1.0 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 5.0 clearances, 2.0 blocks and won 1.0 of 2.0 aerial duels per 90 minutes, according to stats collected by WhoScored.
Would you sign Prince Gouano in January?
Yes
No
Making a move to sign Gouano would likely be on the provision that the £5.4million-rated former France U20 international has recovered from the virus infection which has plagued his season.
We cannot afford to add names to our 25-man Premier League squad if they are not going to improve who is already on offer to head coach Steve Bruce, let alone those who would not be available to the boss.
Bruce has already been forced to deal with a heavily depleted defensive squad list at times this season, with Paul Dummett, Fabian Schar, Ciaran Clark, and Florian Lejeune among the many to have visited the physio’s room at Darsley Park.
In other Newcastle United news, the club are chasing a January deal for a £22.5million forward.