Newcastle eye Lyon star

By European Football
April 11 2005

Newcastle United have joined a long list of clubs in the race to sign Lyon fullback Eric Abidal. Reports in France state that Graeme Souness has had the player watched several times and is preparing a summer move.

Juventus are also believed to be interested and they see the player as a potential long term successor to veteran Lilian Thuram.

But Souness hopes he can persuade Abidal to team up with his international team-mate Jean Alain Boumsong and is hoping the lure of first team football will turn the player from Juventus into Newcastle’s direction.