According to Calciomercato, Newcastle United are monitoring the progress of Udinese midfielder Seko Fofana. The Ivorian could leave the club this summer following a remarkable campaign, and it is believed that he is valued around €15 million.
Fofana’s rapid rise in Udinese
A former member of the Manchester City reserve side, Fofana has enjoyed immense success since moving to Udinese back in 2016. Although the 24-year-old wasn’t a first-team regular during his first two seasons at the club, Fofana has played a monumental role for Udinese in the recently concluded campaign.
Indeed, the Ivorian was a key component in the Friulani midfield, making 31 appearances in the league. He built a formidable partnership with Rolando Mandragora that helped Udinese finish 12th in the table. He also enjoyed a productive campaign, himself, having been involved in six goals, which is quite impressive indeed.
What can Fofana provide to the table?
Fofana is an energetic midfielder, who loves to venture forward with the ball. He can either create chances with his impressing range or act as the ball-carrier. His physically astute nature allows him to keep hold of the ball even under tight pressure. He has averaged 1.2 key passes per game during the 2018/19 campaign.
His balance isn’t top notch. But, what makes Fofana such an appealing target for Newcastle is his long-range prowess. Indeed, the 24-year-old often looks to have a shot on goal, preferably from a considerable distance, with 73% of his shots coming from outside the box this past season.
Another key asset in Fofana’s game is his ability to run at defenders. The Ivorian has notably averaged 1.7 successful dribbles per game, which is a pretty remarkable statistic for a central midfielder.
Should Newcastle United make a move for Fofana?
Fofana will be a logical addition to Newcastle United for multiple reasons. The Magpies have had to deal with several raids from other clubs in regards to star midfielders like Sean Longstaff and Isaac Hayden.
Fofana, to that end, could serve as a potential replacement should one of them leaves the club this summer. Also, the Udinese midfielder has the urgency and work-rate to create a massive difference in the Newcastle midfield while his robust style of play is tailor-made for the physically astute nature of the Premier League.
Most importantly, however, Fofana, for a fee of €15 million, is cheaper than most other options available in the market – making him a smart piece business from Newcastle’s point of view.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
