According to claims from French news outlet L’Equipe, as cited by Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are interested in signing Stade de Reims attacker Remi Oudin in the summer, with Premier League rivals Watford and Serie A outfit Fiorentina also credited with an interest in the 22-year-old Frenchman.
The Chronicle understands that there has been no official approach made for the player but it would require a bid of around £10 million to secure the services of the winger.
A youth product of Stade Reims, Remi Oudin made his first-team debut in 2016 against Valenciennes in Ligue 2.
After a successful breakthrough season which saw him accumulate 4 goals in the French second tier, Oudin went on to play a pivotal role in Reims’ promotion-winning campaign in Ligue 2 last year, contributing with 6 goals and 7 assists from 24 appearances.
The talented 22-year-old has carried on from where he signed off last season and has successfully made his mark in his first season in Ligue 1. Oudin has chipped in with 10 goals and 3 assists from 35 appearances for Reims in the top flight this term, steering the club way above the relegation zone and up to 9th in the standings.
Reims have overachieved on their return to the top flight and Oudin has undoubtedly been one of the key driving forces behind the club’s success.
A fast, agile and fleet-footed attacker with a good eye for goal, Oudin primarily operates as a winger or a wide forward down the right, owing to his left-footed nature. The Frenchman combines his bagful of trickery with his acceleration and dribblings skills to cut inside from the wide areas, which allows him to have a crack on goal or set it up for his teammates to pull the strings.
Oudin, however, is still very much in the developmental phase of his career and there is plenty of room for improvement as far as his passing and decision-making are concerned.
His influence does seem to wane at times and the rhythm in his game goes missing occasionally but he deserves a lot of credit for his strong performances in his debut season in Ligue 1. The impressive aspects of his game also include high work-rate and defensive contribution, which are indispensable for any wide player in the English game.
To put things into perspective, Oudin has shown a lot of promise in his first season in the French top division and he would be a good long-term investment for both the aforementioned Premier League clubs but Newcastle should look to win the race for the talented youngster.
The Magpies need to add more firepower to their attack heading into the upcoming campaign and Oudin seemingly has the attributes to provide that X-factor.
Oudin is young and talented, and at 22, there is still plenty of time for him to make significant improvements to his game. He perfectly fits the profile of players that Newcastle should be looking to target in the transfer window and he might prove to be a good addition for a reasonable price.
Newcastle are probably not going to sign West Brom loanee Salomon Rondon permanently, with age being a big factor behind owner Mike Ashley’s reluctancy to strike a deal for the 29-year-old.
Ayoze Perez might also head for the exit door at Tyneside come the end of the season, with The Sun claiming that Serie A giants Napoli and Inter Milan, as well as Arsenal, are weighing up moves for the 25-year-old Spaniard.
Joselu is another striker who apparently has no future at the club, while Robert Kenedy is also set to return to parent club Chelsea at the end of the season. Jacob Murphy has struggled on loan at West Brom in the Championship and Rafael Benitez is unlikely to have a role for him at St.James’ Pak next season.
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Suffice to say, there are question marks over the futures of several of the attacking players at Tyneside and signing Remi Oudin would be a smart move.