Athletic journalist moots ‘viable’ Newcastle United move for ‘massively talented’ Everton ace Amadou Onana
A move from Everton to Newcastle United for Amadou Onana is “viable,” according to The Athletic’s Jacob Whitehead.
The journalist noted that the midfielder has previously received interest from Newcastle’s head of recruitment Steve Nickson’s lists.
Whitehead added that such interest could be renewed amid the expected impending lengthy suspension for Magpies midfielder Sandro Tonali due to a betting probe.
“In the summer, Newcastle used Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella as a smokescreen for their move for Tonali – but price emphatically rules a move for another Italian international out,” Whitehead wrote for The Athletic (24 October).
Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and Onana of Everton have also previously featured on head of recruitment Steve Nickson’s lists. Palhinha is potentially unrealistic, but Onana could be viable.
“The Belgium international is raw but massively talented; the drawback is the length of time it could take him to integrate into Eddie Howe’s system.”
Goodison exit?
Onana has impressed in midfield at Goodison Park, with many Toffees fans fearing that he would leave in the summer, with plenty of interest seemingly coming in for the Belgian.
But he decided to stay at Merseyside, opting to help the club get out of their current mess under Sean Dyche. It hasn’t gone to plan, however, with the Toffees currently sitting 16th in the Premier League table.
Their worrying form, coupled with that of high-flying Newcastle, could really tempt Onana with a move to the Magpies.
Moreover, they are playing Champions League football this season, and can also massively outclass Everton when it comes to finances available, so Onana’s mind may already be made up.
Whether or not Newcastle come in for the midfielder is another matter entirely, while the Toffees will be doing everything in their power to keep hold of him. If they can’t, Dyche will be trying his best to get as big a fee as possible given the player’s current career trajectory.
In other Everton news, Chris Sutton has slammed a “stupid” Toffees player live on BBC after what happened against fierce rivals Liverpool.