Newcastle look to have found a new striker partner for Papiss Cisse in the form of French international Bafetimbi Gomis.
Reports from Sky Sports indicate that the Magpies have agreed to a fee to bring Gomis to St. James’ Park after a four year spell at Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Newcastle’s interest in Gomis came to a boil last week when the club submitted a $9.2 million (£6m) bid that the French club promptly denied. It was then that Lyon informed Newcastle owner Mike Ashley that a deal could get done if he raised his offer to $13.3 million (£8.7m).
The request reportedly turned off Newcastle, who claimed to drop their interest in Gomis in favor of pursuing another Frenchman, Queens Park Rangers’ striker Loic Remy.
But the posturing failed to work as Lyon stood firm on their figure and now, Newcastle have reportedly paid up the $13.3 million fee. The deal will likely be concluded this weekend when Gomis and Newcastle finalize personal terms and the player undergoes a medical.
Lyon confirmed the agreement through president Jean-Michel Aulas, who told French website Journal du Dimanche: “We have accepted the proposal of Newcastle, which is eight million euros, plus two million bonus.”
The hulking Gomis, who bagged 16 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances last year, will partner Cisse up front and serve as a buffer to reduce the physical impact the Senegalese striker has endured since the departure of Demba Ba.
If the deal is finalized, Gomis will continue the French Revolution at Newcastle, becoming the club’s 12th French player on the roster.
