Newcastle United could pounce with Stade Rennais struggling to finance a move for FC Midtjylland’s Jens Cajuste, according to RMC Sport journalist Loic Tanzi.
The lowdown
Cajuste, a 21-year-old defensive midfielder, made 39 appearances for the Danish side last season.
Four of those appearances came in the group stages of the Champions League, where he twice faced Liverpool.
Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed Cajuste as ‘a great talent’ and ‘the future of Swedish football’, adding that he’ll ‘soon be ready’ to ‘attack one of the top five leagues’.
He has two years left on his contract and is valued at £4.5million by Transfermarkt.
According to The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, Newcastle would like to sign two midfielders this summer – a box-to-box option and a ‘combative presence’.
The latest
Tanzi writes that Cajuste’s proposed move to Stade Rennais has reached a ‘standstill’. They must raise money through player sales before they can present a satisfactory bid.
Newcastle are not the only Premier League club who could capitalise. Newly-promoted Brentford also ‘want to move forward’.
The verdict
Cajuste looks a really exciting talent, and one whose value could skyrocket in the coming years.
It’s probably a good sign that Brentford are interested too given the renowned success of their data-driven recruitment model.
With only a ‘meagre’ budget this summer, perhaps adopting a diamond-in-the-rough recruitment model would be wise for Steve Bruce and co, especially now the takeover is on hold until at least next year.
In other news, Lee Ryder issues a concerning update on this ‘outstanding’ ace.