Rumour suggests Newcastle United could make deadline day signing after all - But there is a catch
Newcastle United may not be ready to give up on the transfer market this month after all if the rumours coming from France are to be believed.
The Magpies are thought to be set to complete a deadline day swoop for 19-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder Patrick Zabi from Reims.
The Chronicle and Sky Sports' Pete Graves have also picked up the story, which originated in French outlet So Foot.
As we know, Newcastle are looking for a dynamic young midfielder to add to the first team ... but Zabi may not be the one.
Newcastle could complete a deadline day swoop for Patrick Zabi
The story goes that Newcastle representatives are in Reims trying to finalise the deal before the deadline, and if it goes through, Patrick Zabi will sign a long-term contract at Newcastle.
However, it's also claimed that Zabi will be immediately loaned back to Reims for the remainder of the season as the French side are pushing for a return to Ligue 1.
So if Newcastle do manage to get this one completed today, it's still not a player who is going to affect our season at all.
Patrick Zabi plays in centre-midfield and can play as a defensive midfielder
The central midfielder has made 18 appearances in Ligue 2 this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists to add to his one goal and one assist in three Coupe de France games.
Whether Zabi will be the midfield addition we've been looking for when the likes of Kees Smit and Hayden Hackney have been mentioned, we'll have to wait and see.
Our guess is that we'll still keep pushing for one of the aforementioned players or someone similar as well as Zabi. A 19-year-old playing in the second tier of the French league doesn't sound like a first-team ready player to us.
