Player who Newcastle wanted to pay £50m for in January is now set to sign for Aston Villa

Add as preferred source on Google

One of Newcastle United’s long-term transfer targets is set to sign for Aston Villa very soon.

Newcastle United and Aston Villa are closely intertwined at the moment, with both clubs upsetting the Premier League’s status quo. First the Magpies qualified for the Champions League, then Aston Villa did the same.

Villa appointed Unai Emery, who Newcastle initially wanted to be their manager before Eddie Howe. They signed Diego Carlos, who Newcastle had planned to bring in during the first transfer window after the takeover. And they even signed Moussa Diaby, who was Newcastle’s dream signing in 2022.

Now Aston Villa are moving for another player who Newcastle United have been heavily linked with signing, as they prepare to replace Douglas Luiz following his move to Juventus.

Aston Villa set to sign £50m Douglas Luiz replacement

While Villa could be about to sell Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad, they are also about to make a major signing of their own.

According to the Telegraph, Amadou Onana is set to leave Everton and sign for Aston Villa in a £50million deal.

They report that a transfer will be completed this weekend, with the 22-year-old set to undergo a medical.

Newcastle wanted to sign Onana in January

It is a big signing for Villa, and another example of them completing a deal for a player who was very much on Newcastle United’s radar.

Onana is a long-term target for the Magpies, and was even linked with a move to Tyneside before he joined Everton.

Even after his arrival at Goodison Park, Onana’s name continued to crop up as someone who Toon officials could look to sign.

In fact, it was even reported in January that Newcastle wanted to bring in Onana on loan, before signing him permanently for £50million this summer. That was at a time when the Magpies were desperate for midfield reinforcements, with Joelinton and Joe Willock injured and Sandro Tonali suspended.

Alas, a deal did not come to fruition, and Newcastle’s need for a midfielder like Onana subsided.

Now Aston Villa have swooped in, as they look to enhance their squad before competing in the Champions League.

As for Eddie Howe’s side, it has just been reported that Newcastle are looking at centre-midfielders to possibly sign – just as Onana disappears from the market. Only time will tell if the Magpies have missed out.