Newcastle United have revived interest in one of their big transfer targets, after the club made an important breakthrough in the hunt.
The summer on Tyneside has been exceptionally tough for the Magpies. The club has had to sell Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, while manager Eddie Howe chose to retire after five years at the helm.
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Despite Newcastle bringing in five new first-team players – the most high-profile signing so far is Bazoumana Touré from Hoffenheim for £43 million – there is still room for reinforcements.
Now, with new manager Matthias Jaissle in place, the pressure for further signings is increasing. And the club has returned to a player they previously considered bringing in.
Nmecha on new radar
Under Howe’s leadership, Newcastle considered signing Borussia Dortmund and Germany star Felix Nmecha, but were intimidated by the price tag. In addition, it was claimed that Nmecha himself was not particularly enthusiastic about the move.
Now, however, the dialogue between the player and his representatives has taken a new turn. Talks around Jaissle’s long-term plans have reportedly impressed Nmecha’s camp to such an extent that he is now far more open to a club switch.
With two major midfield departures already confirmed, Nmecha will have a key role if the transfer becomes a reality. He is no stranger to English football – the former Manchester City player already has Premier League experience from his childhood.
The price tag – and Dortmund’s demands
Nmecha has a £75 million buyout clause in his Dortmund contract, but it will not come into effect until 2027. Therefore, the German club are now demanding a whopping £100 million for the international – a demand that has been strengthened by both Elliott Anderson and Morgan Rogers going for similar sums this summer.
Earlier, Dortmund’s sporting director Nils-Ole Book stated that it was “extremely unlikely” that Nmecha would leave the club, and that he could “pretty much rule out” a transfer. But the situation seems to have changed rapidly. Newcastle are now considered far more optimistic about getting a deal in place, and Nmecha himself is showing a willingness to join his brother Lukas in the Premier League.
The club has not yet made a bid for Nmecha, who impressed greatly in his first World Cup with Germany, and who has also been offered to Manchester United.
Optimism around Jaissle
Howe’s departure was probably a big challenge for Newcastle, but the initial feedback on new boss Jaissle is very positive. Director of Performance James Bunce is excited about the changes the former Al Ahli and Red Bull Salzburg manager wants to implement.
“The players were already in a good place, but now there are several changes Matthias wants to implement to help us take the next step,” Bunce told The Gazette.
“What we have now is an opportunity to see Matthias deliver the technical and tactical instructions he wants. I think we will already see it against Valencia, based on what we have seen in the last few days. That development and change will continue throughout the season – and through Mattias’ three years here, he will continue to develop both technically and tactically.
Matches and start of the season
Newcastle face Valencia in a friendly on Saturday, before they also face Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg in the pre-season. The new season kicks off on August 23 with a tough home game against Liverpool at St. James’ Park.
And if Newcastle can pull off the Nmecha transfer, it will send a strong signal that the Magpies still have ambitions – despite a turbulent summer.
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