Ligue 1 star refuses to rule out January move to NUFC - "I don’t want to close the door.."
Just a few days after being linked with a January move to Newcastle, Strasbourg star Kenny Lala has refused to rule out a move away this month.
France Football claimed we had identified the in-form Ligue 1 full-back as a target this month, and the Frenchman's latest comments suggest he could be open to a move.
Lala, 27, is an attacking right-back (who can also operate as a let-back), having bagged an impressive 3 goals and 6 assists for Strasbourg this season - helping them move up to 7th in the French league.
Here's what he's told L’Equipe this week when asked about talk of a potential move to Tyneside:
"I don’t set any limit to my progress and in the same way I have not set a time on when to leave.
“I am not closed to anything and I have an agent who takes care of that. I focus on what happens on the pitch.
“But I don’t want to close the door so I don’t calculate any time.
Given cover is needed at left-back AND right-back, a deal to sign a player who can operate in both positions would surely appeal to Benitez.
Not only that, Lala's contract is due to expire in the summer - meaning he could be available at a cut-price fee this month (something that would no doubt appeal to Mike Ashley!).
Here's him in action:
