According to the latest reports from Calciomercato, Newcastle United are interested in signing Brentford’s defensive ace Yoann Barbet. The defender is currently in the final few months of his contract with the Championship outfit, and Aston Villa are also said to be in the mix to sign this defender.
Barbet has been winning plaudits for his performance as he has been a backbone for his side in defence. The defender has made 35 appearances in all competitions this season. The 25-year-old can also fill in as a left back, and that is one of the positions where the Magpies need strengthening.
Benitez managed to sign Antonio Barreca on loan from Monaco in January. However, the manager has persisted with winger Matt Ritchie in the left back spot in the absence of Paul Dummett. Barreca’s loan term is until the end of the ongoing season so the club might want to sign a new left-back in the summer.
Aston Villa are currently going through a purple patch, and they are in with a good shout to finish in the playoff spots. A move to the Premier League might help them lure the defender. However, at the moment, we feel that the Magpies are favourites to sign him. Having said that, the defender is going to find it hard to get into United’s lineup as they have three decent centre back options in the form of Florian Lejeune, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles.
So it is likely that Benitez is looking at Barbet as a possible left back option for next season. The fact that he could be available on a free transfer makes him an exciting prospect. Villa could go in hard for the defender as they desperately need a centre back and a left back, as they don’t have too much depth in those positions.
The defender though recently said that he is also in talks with the Bees over the extension of his current contract so it could go either way at the moment. However, there is no doubt that Villa and Newcastle are a better bet than Brentford at the moment as one is a Premier League club, and one can be a Premier League club by next season.
The Frenchman has decent ball-carrying abilities, and he has the potential to be a squad player at the Premier League level. It remains to be seen how keen Benitez would be to sign this versatile defender in the upcoming summer transfer window.
