The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has issued a potentially exciting update on Newcastle’s transfer plans heading into the final week of the January window.
Speaking on the BBC’s Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, he believes Newcastle are the club to watch over the coming days, revealing that we are expected to launch late bids for Everton’s Amadou Onana or Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White if we can secure a sale to boost our finances.
He could “definitely see that Onana deal happening” if we sell one of Callum Wilson or Miguel Almiron over the next week, feeling the club will test Everton’s resolve. However, the Blues’ £60m asking price will need to come down.
Edwards accepts that key players like Onana or Gibbs-White will be tough to prise away so late in the window, yet we could look to capitalise on their very own financial issues now Everton and Forest currently under investigation for a breach of FFP rules.
The North-East reporter adds that Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been on Tyneside over the past few days – a clear sign that we’re ramping up our transfer plans – with club officials are ‘working round the clock’ to bring in a midfielder following a season-ending injury to Joelinton.
Read everything he had to say in a Newcastle-focused section of the BBC podcast:
“It was actually myself who revealed Newcastle’s interest in Onana for The telegraph this month. I’ve always thought that’s a hugely complicated deal to do £60 million. It is a lot of money to try and cough up in January when we’ve talked about PSR.
“I think what’s interesting about this is Newcastle haven’t actually managed to sell anyone. There’s been a lot of talk. We’ve had Trippier to Bayern Munich, we’ve had Wilson to clubs in Italy (AC Milan), I think that was wishful thinking. Miguel Amiron to a club in Saudi Arabia. We’ve heard all this talk, but actually the only player they’ve managed to get rid of is Javier Manquillo to Celta Vigo and I don’t think they got any money to him.
“So 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 will go as high as £60 million. But then obviously, you know, Everton have got to haggle. They paid a lot of money for him in the summer of 2022 from Lille, £33 million, I think so, they’ll need to make some money off it.
“I think it’s a very, very complicated deal, but I think every single deal now is complicated. Do Newcastle need another central midfielder? Absolutely. Are they working round the clock to try and get that midfielder in? Yes. The last information that came back to me was that it was proving pretty fruitless, but I think they will at least have a little dabble at Onana before the close the window, whether they sell anyone or not.
“I think if they do manage to sell somebody, I think it’ll be a toss up between wherever they go for Onana or Morgan Gibbs-White at Nottingham Forest, but both of those players incredibly hard to prise away.
“We just don’t know how much financial pressure Everton are under. We know they’ve they’ve been hit with this second charge of breaching PSR rules. We know they’ve got one hanging over and they’re appealing the first punishment, but they do have this prospect of another points deduction hanging over them. Do they need to get their affairs in order to sell somebody this month? That has been a rumour in football but I don’t know that for sure.
“I think Newcastle will probably test them and see you know how willing they are to fight to hold to Onana or do they need the money this month.
“Onana won’t be cheap for Newcastle, but he is a good fit to replace Joelinton, in the short term and potentially the medium term if Joelinton doesn’t sign a new contract. So there’s a lot of attraction there.
“It is my understanding that Newcastle is Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has been in the UK the last couple of days speaking to the Newcastle board. Are they going to sanction you know, a big money move?
“The money would come from from Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund. Whatever Newcastle do now would come off their summer budget, but they do need a central midfielder. I think Newcastle are the club I expect to give us the most drama, and the most intrigue as we head towards deadline day.”
Edwards talks utter 💩
Porkpie(Quote)
Onana would be a tremendous buy. Big, strong and mobile he likes to impose his considerable presence in midfield. Him, Joelinton and Bruno would make a fabulous 3 next season with a combination of steel, drive and invention.
Having said that he would be the wrong purchase if we were going to sell Miggy as a forward purchase would be crucial and Gibbs -White is an excellent player currently at the top of his form.
Why not push the boat out and see if we can get BOTH even it means a much reduced outlay next summer. By then we should have Willock and Anderson back as well as Barnes, Pope and Murphy plus others to sell to bring in funds.
This season could still then be a moderate success and maybe a minor European spot to help FFP.
toonarden(Quote)
I will have a pint of whatever your on ….ha
v(Quote)
Your forgetting Tonali…
v(Quote)
Oh I do not agree with the statement regarding Eddie Howe, he has barely started to show his degree of management your statement is one of misunderstanding of the professional degree we are now under
Where we are week is in players of whom most are worn out & or just holding the fort after the most torrid time in our history after years of neglect & very poor management we are constantly struck down with player accidents.
These guys are professionals they give 100% every game what do you expect from them than they give with love of the fans & the city.
We are rebuilding plus we have some very good young talented players but once again they have to managed or the to will be burnt out.
No you are very misguided Eddie Howe & his super management team have got much more to bring to Newcastle United.
We do need a centre half & Gibbs white is in my view the right move he is quite a brilliant player & has good players brain but that’s another story.
Sorry if I’ve upset you but it has to be said.
Blue Lady(Quote)