West Ham United and Newcastle United are reportedly plotting a late swoop of 24-year-old wide man Maxwel Cornet, who is set to leave Ligue 1 giants Lyon.
According to a report by 90 min, West Ham United and Newcastle United have joined the race to sign Maxwel Cornet from Lyon before the summer transfer window slams shut. The 24-year-old Ivorian wide man is also the subject of interest from Burnley, who have tabled a club-record £15 million bid to swoop him away from the Ligue 1 outfit.
Maxwel Cornet has spent his entire senior footballing career in France, having broken onto the scene at FC Metz before joining Lyon in January 2015. The cross-Ligue 1 switch has worked wonders for the career of the 24-year-old, who has also switched allegiances to Ivory Coast after initially representing France through the age groups.
So far at Lyon, Cornet has a solid record of 51 goals and 29 assists in 252 appearances, making a name for being a versatile wide man, as he can play out on the wings as well as a left-back equally adeptly. However, the player is expected to call it quits at the Ligue 1 club this summer, with a lot of interest stemming from the Premier League.
Leeds United were initially linked with the 24-year-old, although the Whites have since ceded their pursuit of the player. Of late, Burnley have been hot on the trails of the Ivorian wide man, having also tabled a club-record £15 million bid for him. And now, West Ham United and Newcastle United have emerged in Cornet’s pursuit.
The interest from West Ham is interesting, considering David Moyes has two left-backs at his disposal in Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku. Cornet, though, could possibly be an option out on the wings, providing some much-needed competition to Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen.
Newcastle, on the other hand, could utilise Cornet as a wing-back, competing with Matt Ritchie and Jamal Lewis for starting spot. Alternatively, the 24-year-old could also battle Jacob Murphy on the right flank, making him a viable attacking option for the Magpies.
As per the report, Hertha Berlin are also keen on signing Cornet, with Lyon open to his sale after signing Xherdan Shaqiri and Emerson Palmieri this summer. What now remains to be seen is if Burnley can prevail with their £15 million offer or if West Ham or Newcastle can make a late swoop for him instead, thereby stealing a march on their Premier League rivals.
