Idrissa Gueye rejects loan move to Newcastle United
By Mitch Wilks
Newcastle have failed in their pursuit to sign Idrissa Gueye on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, despite holding initial talks.
Gueye has fallen out of favour in Paris in recent months and is free to leave the club as a result. Newcastle are in search of a midfielder, but are yet to use the January transfer window to strengthen their squad and are running out of time.
L'Equipe initially reported that Newcastle had made contact over a loan move for the 31-year-old, but the Daily Mail have since confirmed that Gueye has turned down the chance to return to the Premier League with Steve Bruce's side.
The midfielder was signed by then-PSG manager Thomas Tuchel for a reported £29m fee in summer 2019 and has made 16 appearances this season but has featured in limited capacity, having completed just one full game since October.
Gueye is now struggling to find a regular place in the side under the new management of Mauricio Pochettino, with a change of system taking him out of the side. Pochettino has been in pursuit of Dele Alli since taking the PSG job, with the England midfielder out of favour at Tottenham.
PSG's pursuit of Alli has since broken down, however, and is now expected to remain in north London beyond the deadline, which could affect any move for Gueye. Newcastle have also been linked with a loan move for Leicester's Hamza Choudhury, but any deal could be dependant on whether the Foxes get an attacking midfielder in before the deadline themselves.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is also being name-dropped as a potential target for the Magpies. The versatile midfielder is expected to leave on loan before the transfer window slams shut and Newcastle have been in contact over a loan move, as have Leicester and Southampton.