Newcastle United are interested in signing midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Stoke City according to French news outlet SFR Sport.

What's the story?

The 25-year-old signed for Stoke City in 2016 for a club record fee of £18.3million but struggled to impress for the Potters following his big money move.

The Frenchman, currently valued at £5.4million on Transfermarkt, joined Toulouse on loan last season, making 28 league appearances as he scored one goal and assisted another.

According to SFR Sport, Crystal Palace are also interested in the powerful midfielder, but he would prefer to stay in France next season but if possible.

What does Benitez see in him?

After failing to impress for Porto, Stoke and Toulouse, it's hard to fathom why any Premier League managers would be interested in signing Imbula.

He is yet to deliver on the promise he once showed and did not give any sort of return on the big outlay Stoke paid for him.

He can play as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder but doesn't seem to excel in one specific area and it is difficult to pinpoint what he offers a team.

Unless Benitez sees something we don't in this player, he'd be much better off looking somewhere else.

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