A report from i Paper had confirmed that Newcastle were big fans of highly-talented wonderkid Patrick Zabi, but any potential deal now looks to be possible as Paris FC have beaten the Magpies to sign the Ivorian midfielder. Zabi has made 18 appearances for Reims this season in Ligue 2, and has been directly involved in 3 goals despite operating in a central midfield role.
Paris FC sign Patrick Zabi as Eddie Howe's side miss out on Ivorian wonderkid
A new report from French website L’Équipe has confirmed the transfer of Patrick Zabi to PARIS FC. The report adds that Paris FC are set to land highly rated Stade de Reims midfielder Patrick Zabi in a big move for the future. The 19-year-old had drawn interest from top clubs across Europe, but Paris FC have won the race and will bring him in this summer for around €25m. Reims stand to make a massive profit, having signed him for just €100,000 18 months ago. While the transfer isn’t official yet, it’s expected to be confirmed soon.
L’Équipe had also previously reported that Paris FC had tried to sign the player earlier, but Reims ended up rejecting the offer.
Player profile: Patrick Zabi
Patrick Zabi’s rise in French football has been rapid and impressive. The 19-year-old, who only joined Reims last year, has already become one of the league’s standout young players. Nicknamed “Zabi the Magician,” he’s caught the eye with his mix of strength, technical quality and maturity well beyond his age.
While Reims will lose a big talent, the move highlights their knack for developing youngsters. For Paris FC, signing Zabi would be a strong statement as they look to build for the future with one of France’s brightest prospects.
Our opinion on Newcastle missing out on Patrick Zabi
It is undoubtedly a major blow for Newcastle, Eddie Howe, and their fans to miss out on a young talent like Patrick Zabi with huge potential. Who knows, the Ivorian might even end up being one of the best midfielders in the world after a few years.
However, the one positive that Newcastle fans can take from this is that these are the profiles of players that the club are trying to sign for the future. Newcastle currently don't have the ability to attract superstar players at the level of an Mbappe, Haaland, or even a Bryan Mbeumo. Thus, targeting young players with huge potential and getting them at much cheaper price is certainly the way to go for Newcastle, at least for the time being. They can change this approach once they reach the next level, but targeting players similar to the profile of Patrick Zabi is certainly the way to go according to us.
Also Read |
