The club are in talks to sign Paris Saint-Germain defender Stanley N’Soki, according to Sky Sports. The 19-year-old is said to be valued at £7m by the French club.
Despite only having made one senior appearance for PSG, it seems a deal for the teenager is favoured above a move for Bristol City’s Joe Bryan.
The Championship full-back is valued at £6m according to the Bristol Post, who believe we are interested but are not willing to pay the asking price for the 24-year-old. Fans on Twitter can’t understand the club’s logic for pursuing N’Soki instead:
The new Haidara
— Stephen Charles (@Charlieboi554) 2 August 2018
Ashley logic pal
— nick entwisle (@NEntwisle) 2 August 2018
He’s more versatile, which this squad needs. But then Mike Ashley..,
— chrisTopher (@uconn83) 2 August 2018
God knows what to believe with this lot
— SPARKY (@gc192004) 2 August 2018
Must be wage demands ????♂️
— Dan McDonald (@danmc1411) 2 August 2018
Some believe the club is more interested in potential value than talent:
He's a center back that can play LB with massive sell on potential he's cheap because he won't sign a professional contact at PSG
— Sean Casey (@caseysean51) 2 August 2018
Ashley looking at the sell on value…
— Shadders (@Shadders86) 2 August 2018
We can afford the deals Ashley and Charnley feels are good value.
— Daniel Driveklepp (@DanielToon87) 2 August 2018
To be honest, it does seem like a strange decision on the face of it. Bryan may not be proven in the Premier League but he has a great deal more experience than N’Soki. He has 243 appearances in senior football. His 23 goals and 32 assists in his career also demonstrate his attacking intent.
Perhaps the club’s targeting of the PSG youngster is to strengthen the centre of defence. Rafa Benitez does want another centre-half this summer and the Frenchman could be a transfer target for this reason.