What Neil Thompson said when asked about Achraf Lazaar after former Sheffield Wednesday loanee left Newcastle United

Achraf Lazaar’s Newcastle United exit was confirmed on Thursday, and there’s been reports that Sheffield Wednesday would be interested in bringing him back.
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The 29-year-old full back spent some time on loan with the Owls in 2019, playing four games in the second half of the 2018/19 season after being brought in by then manager, Steve Bruce.

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Lazaar is now a free agent after it was decided that his contract in Newcastle would be terminated by mutual consent, and if that was signed off before the transfer window closed on Monday at 11pm then he can sign a contract with any club of his choosing straight away.

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If the termination was completed after 11pm on Monday, however, then the Moroccan international will only be able to sign for a club where their transfer window remains open.

Links in the media have suggested that the Owls could be interested in bringing the defender back to Hillsborough, especially given their hunt for a left back, but Neil Thompson says he’s not been discussed.

Speaking to The Star, he said, “It’s not something that we’ve discussed, but obviously when people become available then we do take note and act accordingly.”

He also added that there had been no contact with Lazaar that he was aware of.

Former Sheffield Wednesday loanee, Achraf Lazaar, became a free agent after leaving Newcastle United. (Pic Steve Ellis)Former Sheffield Wednesday loanee, Achraf Lazaar, became a free agent after leaving Newcastle United. (Pic Steve Ellis)
Former Sheffield Wednesday loanee, Achraf Lazaar, became a free agent after leaving Newcastle United. (Pic Steve Ellis)
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The free agent market, however, is something that ‘Thommo’ and the recruitment team are monitoring, and he says that they’re keeping an eye on things to see if anything interesting comes up.

He told the media, “It’s just wait and see… Obviously people between now and the end of the season, if their time is up at a club then they’ll start getting paid up because people want to get out and play.

“We’ll see where it goes, there’s nothing in the offing at this moment in time, but it’s something that the recruitment guys will keep their eyes on.”

Wednesday signed both Sam Hutchinson and Andre Green in January as the club sought to bolster the squad ahead of a tough relegation battle, and it remains to be seen if there will be any more fresh faces coming in between now and the end of the season.

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