Toon Look To Algerian

Newcastle United are reported to be interested in the Nigerian keeper Rais M'Bohli.

Sky Sports have to day reported that Newcastle's interest in M'Bohli has been confirmed by Slavia Sofia president Ventsislav Stefanov.

The money on offer from Hughton is said to be in the region of £1m which judging by the keepers performances during the World Cup, isn't a bad price.

Rais M'Bolhi started out his career in France where he was born to a Congolese father and an Algeria mother. His first club was Olympique de Marseille, which he joined at the age of 18 in 2002 and where he stayed for four seasons, however without ever making a single appearance in the league.

In winter of 2006 and after his release from Marseille he joined Scottish side Hearts of Midlothian for only six months and again without making any first team appearances. In the summer of 2006 M Bolhi moved to Greece where he signed for Ethnikos Piraeus and after making five appearances with the team he moved on to another Greek side, Panetolikos.

Two years ago, the young goalkeeper ventured way into new territory as he packed his bags to Japan where he joined F.C. Ryukyu and made his biggest number of appearances (22 games).

The following season he returned to Europe, signing a two-year contract with Bulgarian side, Slavia Sofia where he made 25 apperances and continues to play until today. And although M'Bolhi made apperances for the youth national teams of France (at the U-16 and U-17 level), he answered Rabeh Saadane's call in May of this year to join the Algerian team's camp in Switzerland in preparation for the FIFA World Cup.

His debut came a few weeks later in a friendly which ended with a 3-0 loss to Ireland as he came on as a substitute and conceded one goal from a penalty kick.

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