United target Bafetimbi Gomis has been given an £8.6m tag amid speculation that he is close to leaving Lyon this summer
Bafetimbi Gomis is moving closer to a summer transfer but Lyon are determined not to let their star striker leave on the cheap.
Newcastle United are hoping to exploit the fact the 27-year-old is into the last 12 months of his contract to sign him at a much-reduced price. But Lyon hope to play on interest from a number of other clubs to extract as much money as possible for the France international.
Gomis seeing out his contract appears increasingly unlikely after he failed to appear at a meeting to discuss his future yesterday. President Jean-Michel Aulas told the French media Gomis had not shown for the talks, despite having been told to in a hand-delivered letter,
But French sports newspaper L’Equipe are reporting that Lyon hope to sell Gomis for a fee of £8.6m, rising to £10.3m, whereas Newcastle have lodged an opening offer of £4.3m-£5.2m.
Although they will lose Gomis for free next summer if a deal cannot be struck, the Ligue 1 side probably think they are in a strong bargaining position. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has been applying the pressure on new director of football Joe Kinnear by making it known he wants two strikers this summer.
He has confirmed Gomis is on his list of targets, along with Loic Remy and Darren Bent, who may join on loan so that Aston Villa can get a large portion of his wages off their bill, without Newcastle having to pay them all.Newcastle have already had to cross Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off their list after he joined Borussia Dortmund.
Kinnear is under increasing pressure from inside and outside the club because as yet they are the only Premier League side yet to sign a senior player.
Wages could also be a problem with Gomis, with the striker demanding around £60,000 a week.
Aulas said earlier in the week that “at least three” clubs had expressed an interest. He confirmed Newcastle were one, but at that stage they had not made an offer.
Rubin Kazan and Swansea City both showed an interest in Gomis in January, while Marseille and Fulham are thought to have done so this time.
http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lyon-hold-out-86m-price-5373249