Abde Ezzalzouli is attracting a lot of attention this summer and Newcastle United officials have already taken a close look at the star
Abde Ezzalzouli of Real Betis
Abde Ezzalzouli of Real Betis(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
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Newcastle United scouts were in the stands twice last month to check out Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli.
Sources in Spain suggest that the Magpies watched games against Real Oviedo and Elche as the exciting Moroccan international helped them to two victories in La Liga. Ezzalzouli impressed on both occasions but weighed in with a goal and an assist in the victory over Oviedo.
Chronicle Live has been told that Betis chiefs are well aware of Newcastle's interest in Ezzalzouli but as of the weekend there had been no bid.
As reported by Chronicle Live on Saturday, the 24-year-old has a £51million release clause, and the Magpies aren't alone in terms of interest with Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa also keen on the World Cup-bound star.
It's worth noting that Ezzalzouli is predominantly a left winger so Newcastle would be paying for a player that has operated in other positions sparingly.
The ex-Barcelona youngster has played as a right-sided attacker just 15 times in the Spanish leagues and just once as a centre-forward, so he would not arrive with the same versatility as Anthony Gordon and with Harvey Barnes also very much a left-sided man, it raises the subject of restrictions.
Nonetheless, with 41 goals and 27 assists from his 219 senior games, Newcastle would be signing an undoubted talent and a star who is ready to light up the Premier League stage.
Speaking last year, before Real Betis played Chelsea in the Europa Conference League final, Ezzalzouli said he could handle the heat at the top level. He told Diario de Sevilla back then: "I like criticism to shut them up. Whoever they put in front of me, I'll eat them alive."
Newcastle are trying to conduct their transfer business quietly and under the radar, so it remains to be seen if a solid bid arrives before the World Cup.
Sporting director Ross Wilson dropped a hint on how Newcastle are operating under a new transfer model, and said on Friday after Gordon's sale: "There has been interest in Anthony from a number of Europe's leading clubs over a period of time, and the conversations involving the club, led by David Hopkinson and myself, as well as Anthony's representatives, have been conducted confidentially and with a great deal of professionalism on all sides."
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