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Newcastle target Gomis eyes move to Premier League

Bafetimbi Gomis' Lyon career had looked to be over © Getty Images

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Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis would prefer a summer move to the Premier League, according to his Italian agent.

Francesco Di Frisco looks after the French international's interests in Italy, and told TMW that Gomis, 28, would be unlikely to head to Serie A when his contract at the Stade de Gerland expires in June.

Instead, Di Frisco acknowledged Gomis would welcome an approach from the opposite side of the Channel where Newcastle United head the queue of suitors after coming close to signing him in the summer.

"I'm sincere, I don't think the future is in Serie A for Bafetimbi," he said. "For the moment, we have had some interest from France, England and Germany. I don't understand why there are no Italian clubs, particularly as he always scores when he has been able to play, even in the Europa League.

"It's also true that, come January 31, if an Italian team calls, anything could happen. Everything's still open, but today, I think the Premier League is his preferred destination. I would say he'll go in June when he'll be free."

Gomis was the subject of an intense public campaign to force him out of the club by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas last summer as the seven-time Ligue 1 champions sought to recoup some of the €15 million they paid Saint-Etienne for the him in 2009.

Having consistently rejected moves away from Lyon in the last season-and-a-half, Gomis again turned down the opportunity to make a switch, despite Aulas saying he was no longer part of the plans of first-team coach Remi Garde.

The forward has since been reintegrated into Garde's squad, but has consistently refused to talk about extending his contract with the club for whom he finished last season as leading scorer.

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