Chelsea plot swoop for Newcastle United transfer target Allan Saint-Maximin loves

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Thuram with his contract at Borussia Monchengladbach set to expire in the summer. The 25-year-old is expected to leave the Bundesliga club and could be available on a cut-price deal this month, with Chelsea now looking to make a move.

The Daily Mail have claimed Chelsea have ‘stepped up’ their pursuit of signing the French international this week having opened talks regarding a January deal. Thuram has scored 13 goals in 17 appearances for Monchengladbach this season and made five appearances for finalists France at the World Cup in Qatar.

The Turin-born forward could be available for as little as £6million this month as Monchengladbach look to cut their losses or risk losing him on a free in the summer.

Allan Saint-Maximin wants Thuram to sign for Newcastle

While Newcastle have an interest in the player, head coach Eddie Howe played down talks of a potential move after Magpies winger Allan Saint-Maximin said he hoped Thuram would join him on Tyneside.

Saint-Maximin told The Gazette last month: [Thuram] is a great player and I hope we have a chance to take him here.

"I was so happy for him [to play at the World Cup].”

Saint-Maximin is close friends with Thuram, having played youth football at Boulogne-Billancourt alongside him as well as representing France together at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-21 level.

On Saint-Maximin's comments, Howe laughed: “Well done, Maxi!

"[Thuram’s] a top player. But, yeah, no more than that. He’s one that I watched in the World Cup, for sure, but no more than that."