The Northern Echo are reporting that Achraf Lazaar has been told that he can leave the club before the end of the month. The left-back isn’t in Rafa Benitez’s plans for the new season despite the clubs failure to sign cover for Paul Dummett.
The Moroccan international spent last season on loan at Benevento, and his agents have been tasked with finding another club in Italy who would be willing to take on the 26-year-old.
With Jesus Gamez having left the club back in June, it leaves Javier Manquillo as the only real cover in the senior squad. Ciaran Clark can be used as a makeshift fullback, but it does show how poorly rated Lazaar is by Rafa that he isn’t even being considered as a squad player with the Premier League transfer window having now shut.
The fullback’s last loan move to Benevento reportedly had a purchase option included in the deal, but after playing 9 games in his first two months with the Italian side, a knee injury led to him being given no more first-team opportunities.