Newcastle begin ‘groundwork’ on potential transfer for Everton star Amadou Onana as contract update emerges
Newcastle United have already begun “groundwork” on a potential transfer for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, according to Graeme Bailey.
The journalist reported via HITC on Saturday (20 January) that the Magpies have already got a contingency plan in place at St James’ Park should talks over extending Joelinton’s contract remain stalled, with the Belgian one name on their radar.
Atalanta midfielder Ederson and Nice’s Khephren Thuram are also on Eddie Howe’s shortlist alongside Onana with work already beginning in the North East to ensure that these deals can be done should Joelinton move away from Newcastle.
A number of European clubs are already keeping tabs on the Brazilian midfielder with European giants Juventus and Atletico Madrid both understood to hold an interest in the 27-year-old.
Groundwork beginning
It feels slightly ominous that Newcastle are already preparing a bid to sign one of Everton’s most important players in the background before Joelinton has even moved close to departing St James’ Park.
The Toffees’ well-documented poor financial situation, which has seen them twice charged with breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, means that teams up and down the country will be eyeing up Everton stars.
Should Howe’s side be willing to pay the Blues a reasonable fee and match their asking price for the Belgian international, this deal may be one that Everton have to accept as such a big influx of cash would go a long way to solving the Toffees’ financial issues.
It remains to be seen whether or not Newcastle will even act on the groundwork that they’ve already put into the deal, but it does seem as though the interest in Onana is only going to build until the end of the January transfer window and the season.
Hopefully, he’ll still be an Everton player come the start of February.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are reportedly in a six-club Premier League battle for the signing of one Celtic star this January
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