Everton ace Amadou Onana is one of the hottest properties in the Premier League this season, and the midfield star has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Goodison Park.
Several clubs, including Manchester United and Arsenal, have expressed their interest. But The Telegraph now reports that Newcastle United are also eyeing a January swoop for the highly sought-after Belgian.
The report has emerged after speculation suggesting Onana is unsettled at the Merseyside club and would be open to a move either this month or in the summer.
Onana has proven to be a value-for-money acquisition since joining Everton in the summer of 2022. But the club’s financial problems could force them into a sale earlier than expected.
Everton have already been docked ten points for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules this season, and the prospect of further punishment looms large amid confirmation of a second breach earlier this week.
That suggests Everton may need to sanction a number of player sales to balance the books, and Onana could be one of those sacrificed to salvage the club’s precarious financial situation.
While the Toffees are resolved to losing the Belgium international, they aren’t prepared to let him walk away on a cheap, slapping a whooping £50 million price tag on their prized asset.
Nonetheless, their valuation isn’t expected to deter interested parties, with Newcastle keen to test Everton’s resolve.
The Magpies remain determined to bolster their midfield ranks, and Onana is seen as a primary target.
Onana has been a prominent member of Sean Dyche’s starting line-up this season, missing just four Premier League games after picking up a calf injury in late November.
His potential departure would undoubtedly be a huge blow for the Toffees, but it is a necessary sacrifice they have to make, considering their financial situation.
Whether or not Everton will hold out for a £50m fee remains to be seen, but Newcastle appear determined to strike an agreement either this month or next summer.