Newcastle had to shop in the bargain bin in the summer transfer market as Rafa Benitez signed seven new players despite making a net profit in the window.
It seems that as long as Mike Ashley is in charge, Benitez will have to wheel and deal in the transfer market and the free agent market is one Newcastle have utilised in the past – most recently in signing Ki Sung-yueng from Swansea earlier this year.
Ligue 1 has plenty of talented players whose contracts will expire come the end of the season and Benitez may be able to sign them for free in the summer, or on the cheap in January.
It is a market Newcastle have made use of before, signing the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa, Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran among others from French side.
We take a look at fifteen players Newcastle could potentially snap up from the free agent market at the end of the season.
Adrien Rabiot – PSG
Rabiot remains one of French football’s hottest properties but he is yet to sign a new deal with PSG.
He is a mainstay in PSG’s starting XI but there is reported Premier League interest in his services.
The 23-year-old’s future could be one of the big transfer sagas of the 2018/19 campaign.
Angel Di Maria – PSG
The former Manchester United winger has enjoyed three successful seasons in the French capital but his deal comes to an end at the end of his current campaign.
He has had a year of Premier League experience at Manchester United. Could he be tempted to take a second bite of the cherry?
Mario Balotelli – Nice
Balotelli remains one of the game’s biggest characters and has rejuvenated his career in Ligue 1.
Now aged 28, Balotelli is in his third season at Nice but he could be tempted to have another crack at the Premier League following previous spells with Manchester City and Liverpool.
Alphonse Areola – PSG
Areola is a goalkeeper who has been linked with Newcastle in the past.
He had originally lost his place in the side to Gianluigi Buffon which could have left his future up in the air.
However, the 25-year-old has usurped the Italian legend in the side in recent weeks and seems to be PSG’s number one choice moving forward.
The French international is out of contract in the summer but will almost certainly be offered a new deal. It’s certainly one to keep an eye on, though.
Rafael – Lyon
Rafael seemed the natural successor to Gary Neville under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United but fell out of favour once the Scot retired.
While playing for the Red Devils, he won three Premier League titles and helped United reach two Champions League finals.
He has since gone on to impress for Lyon and was part of the side that recently beat Manchester City 2-1 in the Champions League.
At 28, he still has plenty left to give at the top level and Newcastle need better depth in the right-back department to challenge DeAndre Yedlin.
Almamy Toure – Monaco
The 22-year-old right-back still has his best years ahead of him and could help Newcastle solve their right-back problem.
He will gain Champions League experience this season and is certainly a player worth taking a gamble on.
Neven Subotic – St Etienne
At one point Subotic was one of the most coveted defenders in Europe.
His formidable partnership with Mats Hummels formed the spine of a Borussia Dortmund side which won two Bundesliga titles, the DFB Pokal as well as reaching the Champions League final in 2013.
Unfortunately, a serious injury saw him fall out of favour at Signal Iduna Park and he ended up out on loan at FC Koln.
He joined St Etienne in January, penning an 18-month deal, meaning he is out of contract at the end of this season.
At 29, there will be few centre-halves that represent greater value next summer if the Serbia international becomes a free agent.
Hatem Ben Arfa – Rennes
How Newcastle fans would love Ben Arfa to return.
The Frenchman dazzled at times during his spell at Newcastle and went on to enjoy a successful season at Nice.
That earned him a move to PSG which quickly turned into a two-year nightmare but he is back on track with Rennes.
He scored the winner on his debut in the Europa League and it will be interesting to see whether he extends his stay beyond his one-year contract.
Dani Alves – PSG
A serial winner, Alves is reaching the end of his career. He will be 36 at the end of this season
During spells with Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus and PSG, Alves has won six La Liga’s, five Copa Del Rey’s, three Champions League’s, three FIFA Club World Cup’s, two UEFA Cup’s, one Serie A, one Coppa Italia, one Ligue 1, one Coupe de France and one Coupe de la Ligue.
A direct full-back, with an eye to goal, he will offer plenty of experience and is yet to sample the Premier League.
Oussama Haddadi – Dijon
The Tunisia international defender has only been playing his football in France since January 2017 but he has impressed in Ligue 1.
The 26-year-old left-back could provide the sufficient cover in that department, which the club has lacked in recent years.
Yoan Cardinale – Nice
The 24-year-old is one of the most highly rated goalkeepers in Ligue 1 and has spent his entire career at Nice.
Newcastle are well stocked for goalkeepers but they could do a lot worse than taking a look at Cardinale, who could be ready to take the next step in his career.
Olivier Kemen – Lyon
Kemen was signed by Newcastle as a youngster and was considered one of the finest talents in the Magpies’ youth setup.
However, the 22-year-old returned to his native France in 2015 to join Lyon but his time at the Stade Gerland has been spent mainly out on loan.
Two temporary spells at Ajaccio have not been able to propel Kemen into Lyon’s first-team plans and he is set to be available on a free this summer.
Yoan Gourcuff – Dijon
Once dubbed the ‘next Zidane’ Gourcuff’s career hasn’t lived up to the huge expectations from when he was younger.
Now 32, Gourcuff has taken in spells with AC Milan, Lyon, Bordeaux and Stade Rennais and he now plies his trade with Ligue 1 side Dijon.
Despite his age and unfulfilled potential, Gourcuff offers undoubted talent and it could be worth taking a gamble for free in the summer.
Cheikh M’Bengue – St Etienne
M’Bengue has been linked with Newcastle in both 2011 and 2016 and he is out of contract at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old now finds himself at St Etienne and while Newcastle lack sufficient cover for Paul Dummett at left-back, the Senegal international remains an option they could explore.
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