Newcastle United have made a £12million for Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour, despite him preferring a transfer to Italy.
The Tunisia international is expected to leave the French side this summer with big clubs around Europe wanting his signature.
The Magpies face tough competition for the 25-year-old as Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move, but the former Toulouse and Werder Bremen star revealed that he would prefer a move to Italy with giants AC Milan and Juventus showing deep interest.
However, despite him preferring a Serie A switch, new Toon manager Steve McClaren is desperate to land the experienced defender and has placed a £12million bid for the Tunisian.
McClaren wants money to spend to strengthen all positions in his squad this summer and has been a keen admirer of the centre-back for some time.
Newcastle’s offer falls way short of Monaco’s valuation of Abdennour, with the Red and Whites putting a £21million price-tag on the player who joined the club in January last year.
By Drew Darbyshire (@DarbySports)
