Newcastle United tipped to sign £33m man who Alan Shearer called a ‘powerhouse’

Newcastle United are currently navigating their way through a difficult injury crisis which has been further amplified by the 10 month suspension of marquee signing Sandro Tonali. The Magpies added squad depth in a number of areas in the summer with Harvey Barnes, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento all arriving, but the long term status of Tonali’s ban leaves them once again in the market to sign a midfielder.

Eddie Howe is reportedly determined to fill the void left by Tonali’s absence and one name that has been mentioned is Everton prodigy Amadou Onana, according to Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb. Onana arrived at Goodison Park in the summer of 2022 for a blockbuster fee of £33m and has been a near ever present in the Everton setup since his arrival.

The nine-time Belgian international is renowned for his strength, aggression and stamina in the midfield which makes him a key component in Sean Dyche’s team. Onana’s performances have attracted plaudits from a number of football experts including Newcastle icon Alan Shearer, who described him as a “powerhouse” during an interview with the official Premier League website.

Fansided claims that Howe is a big admirer of the player and adds that he has been given the green light to pursue him in the winter window. Everton are currently facing allegations of Financial Fair Play breaches in the Premier League and face the potential prospect of a 12-point deduction, according to The Telegraph. These off the pitch issues could force the club into selling one of their most valuable assets if Newcastle were to come up with a suitable bid.

Onana has previously competed in the Champions League for Lille, whilst playing alongside Sven Botman. He has ambitions of making the Belgium squad for Euro 2024 and further experience in Europe’s elite competition could help his case of being included in Domenico Tedesco’s final squad. Everton paid £33m to sign Onana last summer and Fansided added that Newcastle will likely need to exceed the £40m mark to sign him in January.