Player reportedly on Newcastle's wish list in January now said to have turned down move to Arsenal

Newcastle United reportedly have a solid interest in Everton midfielder Amadou Onana and the Magpies may try and sign the 22-year-old again this summer.

There's no doubt that Newcastle are going to be very active in the transfer market this summer after a freakish injury list exposed the lack of depth in the current squad this season.

Add to that the fact that, as things stand, fan-favourite Joelinton may have to be sold this summer as the club and the player can't agree on terms for a new contract.

Amadou Onana is committed to helping Everton survive

One player Newcastle have lined up as a potential Joelinton replacement is Everton's Amadou Onana, and while there were reports of an interest in January, Onana remains at Everton.

What makes that even more remarkable is that it now turns out that Onana turned down the chance to join Mikel Arteta's Arsenal last month.

Onana's agent and sister, Melissa Onana, recently told the Noyau Dur YouTube show that the youngster had the opportunity to leave Everton but chose to stay and help his side avoid relegation.

“We could have left this winter, but we once again sat down and asked the question whether it’s the right time, if the player is ready. My job is to put opportunities on the table.

“In the end, he’s the one who makes the choice because it’s his life and his career. I put the opportunities on the table and he said ‘No, I want to stay at Everton and I want to continue to fight’.”

That's impressive commitment to the cause to turn down the chance to join a club like Arsenal in order to fight for survival. It does suggest, however, that it was just a timing thing and that Onana's position could change come the summer.

Will Newcastle be looking to spend £50m per player this summer?

Valued at £51million according to The Standard, that puts him in the 'maybe not' category for us this summer. Newcastle will have a bigger budget, for sure, but with so many positions needing filled, we just can't see us going around splashing the cash on £50million players still.

Of course that will depend on whether we sell any big players like Joelinton who could open up a huge amount of headroom under current FFP rules, but again, that will depend what happens with these proposed rule changes and when they take effect.

Whatever happens, it's going to be a tough sell to prise Onana away from Everton to go to Newcastle when Arsenal are also chasing him.