Newcastle Linked with Nigeria Midfielder

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Written by Rhys Melhuish

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Newcastle United are said to be one of several clubs interested in signing Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi.

Reports in the Italian media say that the Magpies are interested, but face stern competition from the likes of Swansea, Everton and German side Werder Bremen to sign the 23-year-old.

Italian news outlet Calciomercato have reported that Lazio value the Nigerian international at £5.3m, and it is further said that Lazio president Claudio Lotito will allow Onazi to leave the club this month, if the price is right.

Onazi joined Lazio in 2011, and has scored three goals in 67 appearances for the Serie A side.

Newcastle have already boosted their midfield numbers significantly this month, with the signings of Henri Saivet and Jonjo Shelvey from Bordeaux and Swansea City respectively.

Cheick Tiote’s £8m move to China also continues to stall, so it would appear very unlikely that Newcastle would make a move for another central midfielder. Especially with those three in their ranks, as well as the likes of Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback and Siem de Jong.

However, Calciomercato seem to think otherwise, and should a deal be completed it would take Newcastle’s January spending over the £30m mark, with Andros Townsend’s move to Newcastle expected to be completed imminently.

If you want to learn more about the hard-hitting Onazi, read THIS interesting interview FourFourTwo conducted with him last year. 

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