‘We look at’ - Eddie Howe reveals opposition player Newcastle United ‘tried’ to sign

Newcastle United slipped down to third position in their Champions League group after a close-fought 1-0 defeat to eight-time German champions Borussia Dortmund. The likes of Callum Wilson and Anthony Gordon twice went close to scoring the equaliser for the Magpies in a difficult game which also resulted in costly injuries to Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak, while summer signing Sandro Tonali played his final game before a 10 month suspension.

The away outfit were the dominant force in the first half and were able to nullify Newcastle’s high press and intensity with fast and direct counter attacking football. This resulted in the opening goal of the game which was scored by a player Eddie Howe attempted to sign in Felix Nmecha.

The 23-year-old ran the show for the visitors and was rewarded with a goal on the stroke of half time when he made an excellent run into the Newcastle penalty area before slotting the ball clinically past Nick Pope. Reflecting on the game, Eddie Howe revealed that he has been a fan of Nmecha for a number of months and even attempted to sign the player in the summer.

Speaking to reporters, Howe told Goal.com: “He’s (Nmecha) a player we looked at and really liked. But, yeah, he’s obviously a Dortmund player now.”

Nmecha was signed by Borussia Dortmund for a fee of around £26m in the summer and the move was completed on the exact same day that Newcastle opted to sign Italian international Tonali for £55m.

Howe added: “Was it a case of us getting someone else instead? It’s never as simple as that.”

Nmecha started his career in the Man City academy but made a name for himself at VFL Wolfsburg where he became an important player. Such form earned the former England youth player an international call up to the senior Germany team and he is in contention for a place in his nation’s squad for Euro 2024 on home soil.

Since arriving at Dortmund, Nmecha has made 11 appearances and his goal against Newcastle was his first strike in Black and Yellow. Nmecha played in a more advanced role than usual against Newcastle and impressed in the absence of Julian Brandt who usually plays in the attacking midfield position.

Newcastle will go head to head with Nmecha once again on Tuesday 7 November as they make the trip to the Signal Iduna Park where they will see the Yellow Wall in action. A victory for the Magpies will see them return to the top two in the Champions League and they are only narrowly behind Borussia Dortmund on head to head record as it stands.