“Newcastle United in EPIC Six-Club Premier League BATTLE to Snag Lyon’s 20-Year-Old SUPERSTAR This Summer!”

Newcastle United appear to have already missed out on several transfer targets this summer, according to various reports.

Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Joan Garcia are all either confirmed moves or close to joining other clubs.

While it’s unclear how serious the Magpies’ interest truly was in each case, fans may understandably feel like the club is falling behind in the market.

Adding to the frustration, Chelsea are reportedly trying to hijack Newcastle’s move for Joao Pedro, while Liverpool have entered the race for Marc Guehi.

It’s a difficult time for supporters hoping to see key additions made early in the window.

Still, new names continue to emerge. According to ESPN, Newcastle are now showing interest in Lyon’s highly-rated winger Malick Fofana.

The 20-year-old Belgian had a strong season, scoring 11 goals and providing six assists in 41 appearances across all competitions.

Unsurprisingly, that form has attracted Premier League interest, with ESPN naming Newcastle among six English clubs monitoring the player.

Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Fulham, Brighton, and — inevitably — Chelsea are also reportedly keen on Fofana.

However, a move to Tyneside feels unlikely. Fofana is a right-footed winger who prefers to operate on the left.

That position is already well-stocked at Newcastle, with Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon both competing for minutes there.

While Fofana can play on the right, it’s not his favoured side — much like Gordon and Barnes, who have struggled when deployed there.

Given that overlap in profile, it’s difficult to see Newcastle pushing strongly for his signature.

With fierce competition and other clubs better placed to offer immediate first-team opportunities, it seems unlikely that Newcastle will win this particular race.