Craig Hopes at future deal for Ivorian midfielder after Newcastle United missed deal deadline
Late in the window on Monday, Newcastle United were reportedly working on a deal to sign young Ivory Coast midfielder Patrick Zabi from Stade Reims.
The plan was reportedly to sign Patrick Zabi from Reims on a long-term deal inJanuary but loan him back to Reims for the remainder of the season to aid in their promotion push.
The story broke with only an hour or so left in the window, which didn't give Newcastle much time to get the deal done, if indeed that was the plan at all.
Ultimately, Newcastle missed the deadline, and Patrick Zabi remains a Reims player, but Craig Hope did say that the story isn't over.
Craig Hope says Newcastle could sign Patrick Zabi for the summer
Hope posted with just over half an hour left to go in the window that the deal wouldn't be done, but then added an update a couple of hours later suggesting that work could still be ongoing.
"Important to stress on some deals like this, like Jeremy Jacquet to Liverpool, there is no deadline per se if structured for the summer."
Hope is referring to Jeremy Jaquet's move to liverpool which was completed yesterday but won't come into effect until the summer.
We'll have to wait to see how this one pans out
It still remains to be seen how Newcastle view Zabi. Whether the 19-year-old is seen as a first-team addition or whether he'll be another youngster sent to the reserves for development.
He has been a regular feature for Reims this season, but they are currently playing in the second tier of the French league, which is a way off the level of the Premier League.
We'll just have to wait and see if the deal even gets over the line.
