Newcastle urged to launch €35m bid 'ASAP' for midfield powerhouse after 95th minute stunner

For all the talk of us needing new centre-backs, I thought it was clear (once again) yesterday just how weak, one paced and lacking in quality we seem to be in midfield.

Joelinton did brilliantly, but he was carrying both Longstaff and Shelvey; two players who just don't look mobile enough to win the midfield battle.

Just moments after the full-time whistle at St James' Park, reported target Seko Fofana scored a stunning 95th minute winner to send Lens up to fifth in Ligue 1.

After the game, BT Sport commentator David Crossan urged Newcastle United to make a €35m bid 'as soon as possible' for the Ivory Coast international, also revealing that he is believed to earn around €110,000 per month at Lends (£23,000-per-week), meaning he would be in for a considerable pay rise should we make a move.

Here's what the Ligue 1 expert and BBC interviewer tweeted last night:

Foot Mercato revealed this week that we were showing serious interest in the 26-year-old, with The Athletic also reporting that we're admirers of his.

With him a leader, being the current captain at Lens, and the 'complete midfielder' according to many in France, a move for Fofana should be a no-brainer given what he could offer to a ponderous engine-room in desperate need of new life.

Here's the 95th minute winner he scored last night: