Newcastle and West Ham fight for €20m Blas transfer
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 18 Mar 2022 14:32 GMT
- 3 min read
Ludovic Blas remains on Newcastle United’s watchlist and West Ham have entered the fray as well, Football Transfers can confirm.
The Nantes attacker was in preliminary discussions with the Magpies over the January transfer window but no bid was made, with their last efforts going towards a failed move for Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.
The club failed to bring in the England international but Blas has remained on their radar - and the Hammers are also keeping an eye on the Ligue 1 star.
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Football Transfers is told that the 24-year-old, who has 13 goals across all competitions, 10 of which in Ligue 1, would cost about €20 million.
Other sides may also lock horns with the two Premier League clubs in the coming months too as this will most likely be his last season with Les Canaris, with his contract running out in June 2023.
Watford had interest over the winter period as well but it’s understood that their precarious league position has put off the player, with the Frenchman having no desire to play in the Championship.
Where would Blas fit in?
Blas offers a goal threat, creativity, and tremendous flexibility.
He has played in attacking midfield, central midfield and attacking wing positions this season under Antoine Kombouare at Nantes.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has so far been starting players based on league performances rather than the weight of their name. It’s why Bruno Guimaraes was made to wait so long for his full debut Newcastle debut despite being the marquee signing of the winter window, coming in for around €47m.
Blas would most likely serve as healthy competition for the likes of Ryan Fraser, Miguel Almiron, and Allan Saint-Maximin, on the wing of a 4-3-3, but could also challenge Joe Willock in the centre of midfield
The number 10, who is valued on Football Transfers’ algorithm at €12m, would certainly bolster the forward line for David Moyes’ side too, who have a mild depth of Nikola Vlasic, Michail Antonio, and Jarrod Bowen as outright attackers.
Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma are typically deployed behind Antonio and Moyes will have the choice of putting Blas in any one of the three auxiliary attacking positions - or on the attacking flank of a 4-3-3 as the Irons used in their 2-1 win over Sevilla on Thursday night.
