According to Ghana Football, Newcastle United are interested in signing Al Qadsia defender Rashid Sumaila when the transfer window opens.
The Ghana centre-back, 24, is linked to Newcastle and a number of Championship clubs as Rafael Benitez looks to bolster his defensive line in January.
Such a transfer would have implications for a number of current Magpies and one of those, Florian Lejeune, might question his importance to the team if Sumaila does wind up joining.
Newcastle defender Florian Lejeune in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on August 13, 2017 in Newcastle upon Tyne,...
The French centre-back, an £8.7 million summer signing, has been hit and miss since returning from injury in the middle of October and was questionable in Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Watford at home.
Jamal Lascelles is Newcastle's best centre-half by a distance it seems and signing Sumaila might just suggest that Benitez is not as convinced by Lejeune as he was in July when he signed him.
It must be noted that the Lejeune had never played in the Premier League before, despite a spell at Man City, and it can take a bit of adjustment - especially when you missed the first two months with injury - but that probably won't stop the 26-year-old from questioning his role on Tyneside if the Spanish manager goes out and signs another competitor for him.
Benitez already has Ciaran Clarke and Chancel Mbemba to play there, so the addition of Sumaila would make it harder for the summer signing to keep his place.