According to a report from Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are said to have backed out of a bidding war against Everton in the race to sign Kamaldeen Sulemana of Rennes. The Magpies were keen on bringing him aboard but a price tag of £40 million has put them off from making an offer for the Ligue 1 star.
Sulemana’s Campaign With Rennes So Far This Season
Sulemana has put in a couple of impressive displays for Rennes in the final third during this campaign. The 20-year-old has found the back of the net on one occasion and has picked up two assists in 17 appearances for the Fench club this season across all competitions.
The Ghana-born talent has mostly come off the bench as an impact substitute which explains why is only averaging 0.7 shots, 0.5 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. However, he has been accurate when distributing the ball in the opponent’s half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 82.6% in the top tier of French football (stats via whoscored).
Good Call From Newcastle United Boss Eddie Howe Into Backing Away From The Deal?
Sulemana can make a few dangerous runs with the ball in the final third using his pace and dribbling skills. He has got the vision to cut open the opposition’s defence with a decisive pass on the attacking end of the field. The youngster remains a decent finisher inside the penalty box and can create space for himself to land a few shots in on target. Sulemana is primarily a right-winger but can also operate on the opposite flank if required.
The Rennes ace has the potential to develop further and become an attacking threat in the final third. However, he is still quite inexperienced at the highest level and would have needed time to settle into life in Premier League football even if the Magpies had managed to get him on board during this winter transfer window. Moreover, a transfer fee in the region of £40 million is not a reasonable asking price for the youngster and Eddie Howe did well to take a stance showing that they aren’t willing to go above and beyond of their own valuation of him.
