Luke Edwards: Newcastle working ‘around the clock’ to sign Amadou Onana from Everton in January
Luke Edwards has reported that Newcastle are now working “around the clock” to sign Everton midfielder Amadou Onana before the January transfer deadline.
The BBC journalist also shared that Newcastle would have to sell players to raise the money for the deal due to financial restrictions, and claimed they would not meet the £60million asking price.
However, the Magpies are aware of the need to sign a new midfielder and are working to get it done, although Everton will need to make some money from the deal, having paid £33million for him in 2022.
Speaking on the BBC Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, Edwards shared: “I’ve always thought that was a hugely complicated move to do. £60million is a lot of money to try and cough up in January when we’ve talked about PSR.
“I don’t think Newcastle’s finances have been boosted enough as yet for that Onana deal to happen. I think if Newcastle sell someone before the end of the month, I could definitely see that Onana deal happening.
“I don’t think they’ll go as high as £60million, but Everton have got to haggle. They paid a lot of money for him in the summer of 2022 from Lille, £33million I think, so they’ll need to make some money off it.
“I think it’s a very very complicated deal. Do Newcastle need another central midfielder? Yes. Are they working around the clock, I’m told, to try and get that midfielder? Yes. They will at least have a little dabble at Onana whether they sell anyone or not.”
Newcastle will have to meet Everton’s price
The Toffees will be desperate to keep Onana through the January window, and as a result, they must stick to their guns with their high valuation of the midfielder, no matter who comes knocking.
Whether Newcastle can afford to do the deal or not is none of Everton’s business. They have named their price and should stick to that regardless of any attempts to undercut them with low-ball offers.
With the threat of a further points deduction looming after a potential second charge for breaches of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, Sean Dyche may need all of his best players performing at the top of their game if they hope to avoid relegation this season.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what Newcastle can do with their spending this winter. If Everton are demanding £60million up front, they must stick to that price tag and not cave to any request to pay the fee at a later date.
In other Everton news, the club want to do a late January deal for one £25million star.
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