Newcastle United and Arsenal eyeing swoop for West Ham United target following £25m rejected bid

Newcastle United eyeing swoop for West Ham United target following £25m rejected bid

Newcastle United are reportedly monitoring Sven Botman's former Lille teammate Amadou Onana.

The 20-year-old midfielder is on the radar of a number of Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Arsenal, according to Foot Mercato.

But it is West Ham United who have registered the strongest interest so far as they are understood to have already had two bids rejected by Lille, the latest being worth up to £25million.

After scoring three goals in 41 appearances for Lille last season, Onana made his debut for Belgium’s national team earlier this summer. Standing at 6ft 5in, the youngster is an imposing presence in the middle of the park.

Newcastle are currently looking to make their fourth senior summer signing after a quiet month of transfer business in July. Eddie Howe has signed Matt Targett from Aston Villa, Nick Pope from Burnley and Onana’s former teammate Botman from Lille.

Although Howe wouldn’t rule out signing another central-midfielder, Newcastle’s priority is to strengthen in the final third with Leicester City’s James Maddison emerging as a top target ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Leicester City's James Maddison would be ‘a steal at £50million’ for Newcastle United

Ally McCoist believes £50million for Leicester City’s James Maddison would be a 'steal’ for Newcastle United.

The Magpies are understood to have had a second bid of around £40million for the attacking-midfielder knocked back by Leicester, who value the 25-year-old at £60million.

Still, Newcastle haven’t given up their pursuit of the England international and could consider making an improved offer.

Former Sunderland striker Darren Bent described a potential move from Leicester to Newcastle as ‘a backward step’ for Maddison, despite The Foxes not competing in Europe this season.

But McCoist feels like it would be a good move for both United and the player.

“You look at Jack Grealish going for £100million, you’d probably say Maddison would be a steal at £50million,” he told talkSPORT.

“[Maddison is worth] maybe about £65million, £70million which is incredible.

“Where I disagree with the boys, certainly Benty [Darren Bent], I wouldn’t have it down as a backwards step going to Newcastle.

“I know what we’re saying, certainly Leicester have had injuries, but is there any real intent from Leicester? Has Brendan been allowed to go and say ‘right, here’s what I’m going to do, here are my plans for next season, next couple of seasons.

"I’m going to bring two or three in and we’re going to be off and running again’.

“I’ve not seen that at Leicester. That’s the one thing that will happen at Newcastle. There’s no doubt that will happen.”

Maddison scored, grabbed an assist and won a controversial penalty when Leicester beat Newcastle 4-0 at the King Power Stadium last December.

But since then The Magpies fortunes have turned around as they bounced back to win 12 of their last 18 matches and finish just three points behind Leicester come the end of the season.