Craig Hope says whether Newcastle United will pursue Dayann Methalie after 'surgery' news
Newcastle United's January transfer window plans took a hit on day one when it was revealed that Toulouse defender Dayann Methalie had undergone surgery for chronic pain in his knee.
Toulouse manager Carles Martinez, confirmed in his recent press conference that Methalie had undergone injections in his knee after playing through pain for a while.
Newcastle were strongly linked with an interest in the 19-year-old, and it was expected that the Magpies would swoop in the winter window in order to add some much-needed depth at left-back.
Lewis Hall has only Dan Burn and Alex Murphy as backup options, one of whom is a central defender, and the other is still very inexperienced.
Craig Hope is confident Newcastle will make a move for Dayann Methalie
Dayann Methalie looks to be quite similar to Lewis Hall in that he's young, dynamic and confident enough to take on a player or two and support the attack, but unlike Hall, Methalie is also comfortable playing as a central defender.
Speaking on his YouTube channel after this morning's press conference, Craig Hope spoke about whether Newcastle's dream of signing Methalie was over after the recent injury reveal, and it seems that Hope expects there may be time to get the deal done when he returns to fitness.
"One player that they've been watching who they really do like is the 19-year-old defender, Dayann Methalie.
"Methalie had knee surgery, we don't believe it to be too serious, a minor surgery to cure chronic pain. He is expected to return this month and I would anticipate Newcastle to make an approach, but for now they are monitoring the situation."
We are increasingly excited about the idea of signing Dayann Methalie
That one sounds like Newcastle will be keeping an eye on his progress as he returns to fitness, and if they feel he's recovered enough to pass a medical, they will potentially make their move.
Methalie could be a very exciting addition to the squad. He's been ever-present for Toulouse up until the surgeon's intervention, so he's potentially first-team ready, and that's great news.
We need another option on the left with a similar profile to Lewis Hall, as he has been our shining light since he returned from injury this season, and the fact that we don't have another option like him puts far too much pressure on his shoulders to stay fit.
