Newcastle United are reportedly eyeing a bargain £15 million move to sign Wolfsburg midfielder Felix Nmecha, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Manchester United.
Newcastle United are apparently “preparing a bid” to bring Wolfsburg midfielder Felix Nmecha to St. James’ Park in an “out of the blue” move. And the Magpies are ready to compete with Manchester United for his signature, according to Daily Telegraph.
The Magpies qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after finishing fourth in the Premier League. And they are looking to bolster their squad as they return to Europe. As such, they have announced their first summer signing in the form of Gambian forward Yankuba Minteh, who will officially join from Danish side Odense Boldklu on July 1.
However, rather than continue his development on Tyneside, the 18-year-old wonderkid has been loaned to Dutch champions Feyenoord for the 2023/24 campaign. While they were initially expected to spend over the top this summer thanks to their Champions League qualification and uber-rich Saudi owners, reports suggest they are looking to spend under £100 million amid fears over Financial Fair Play regulations.
The club will make at least one high-profile acquisition, with James Maddison of Leicester City being extensively linked with a move to St. James’ Park. But otherwise, they are looking at cut-price deals. The Telegraph reports that Nmecha fits the bill on this front, with Newcastle hoping to spend around £15 million on the 22-year-old.
Nmecha and his older brother, Lukas, were born in Germany before moving to England at a young age. And both players were on Manchester City’s books until 2021 when they joined Wolfsburg.
Felix is a box-to-box midfielder, whereas Lukas is a forward for the German club. The younger of the two is now garnering interest from the Premier League after becoming a key player for the Bundesliga outfit this term, making 30 league appearances, scoring three goals, and recording six assists in the Bundesliga.
Going by their extensive links to the likes of Maddison, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Khephren Thuram, it’s very clear that Eddie Howe & co. are on the lookout for at least two midfield additions this summer. Felix Nmecha is another player the Magpies have been monitoring for several months.
The 22-year-old is a talented midfielder with the capability to play roles throughout the middle of the pitch, although his profile is that of a number eight. Despite his 6ft 2in frame, he is elegant on the ball and has the ability to retain or win back possession.
Scott McTominay and Conor Gallagher have also been touted as possible Newcastle summer signings. While Nmecha would be a bargain addition at £15 million, Newcastle face stiff competition from Manchester United, who are already in transfer talks with the player’s representative.
The Red Devils’ summer transfer kitty remains unclear, with the ongoing takeover leaving doubt over the amount of funds available at Erik Ten Hag’s disposal. Mason Mount remains the priority midfield signing for Erik ten Hag.
But with Marcel Sabitzer returning to Bayern Munich after his Old Trafford loan spell and the futures of McTominay, and Fred in serious doubt, Manchester United could do well by bringing in more than one midfield addition this summer.
