Teenager who has not appeared for Newcastle first-team wanted by Monaco

Oliver Kemen arrived at St James' Park from Metz in 2013

MONACO want to pay £500,000 for a teenager who has not appeared in Newcastle's first team.

 

Oliver Kemen, 19, has failed to break through at St James' Park since moving from Metz in 2013.

But Ligue 1 side Monaco are keen to sign the midfielder after being impressed by his performances when he captained France in the European Under-19 Championships during the summer.

 

Newcastle manager Steve McClaren has compared Kemen's style to Cheick Tiote and said recently he wants to keep him at the club.

 

But Kemen was not among the reserves McClaren called up to face Northampton in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday and they may sell him if Monaco increase their bid.

McClaren has transformed the club since his arrival, according to Siem De Jong.

The Dutchman made only his second start in their 4-1 win over Northampton after a nightmare 12 months of injuries and illness following his move from Ajax.

 

De Jong celebrated with a goal on a night when new signing Florian Thauvin marked his home debut with a man-of-the-match display which should earn him a place against Arsenal on Saturday.

McClaren made nine changes on Tuesday but will play his strongest side with summer buys Georginio Wijnaldum and Alexandr Mitrovic set for recalls.

After last season's traumas, De Jong feels like one of the new boys in McClaren's remodelled squad. And he senses a more vibrant atmosphere around the place after last year's brush with relegation following the club's near-£50m spending spree.

"It is a new start for everybody and all of us are positive," he said. "The Manchester United game was a boost for the team even though we didn't win and we're happy to have beaten Northampton quite easily.

 

"There is a good feeling around the place ahead of Arsenal."

De Jong may have to settle for a place on the bench against Arsene Wenger's side but is determined to make his mark in the weeks ahead.

He added: "I feel a bit like a new signing myself, not so much with the group but because I have played so few games.

"Last season was the toughest of my career so the other night was only my second 90 minutes for Newcastle.

"That was good but I need games and want to play in as many as I can to get my rhythm back again and Northampton was a good start."