Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe revealed that the club had pursued Felix Nmecha before his pivotal goal for Borussia Dortmund. Nmecha had long been under Newcastle’s scouting radar and was included in their summer shortlist of midfield targets. Despite their interest, Newcastle eventually signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for a club-record £60m ($72.73m) before Tonali received a 10-month ban for illegal betting activities.
Interestingly, it was Nmecha who proved decisive in the recent Champions League clash between Newcastle and Dortmund, scoring a clinical goal just before half-time.
Addressing the situation, Howe acknowledged Nmecha as a player they admired, stating, “He’s a player that we looked at and really liked. But, yeah, he’s obviously a Dortmund player now. Was it a case of us getting someone else instead? It’s never as simple as that.”
In a broader context, Dortmund manager Edin Terzic praised Nmecha’s impact as the team sought to fill the void left by Jude Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid. Terzic emphasized Nmecha’s brilliance, noting his potential to enhance Dortmund’s gameplay. Despite a challenging start to the season, Nmecha found his form, particularly in a more attacking role.
Looking ahead, Newcastle is set to face Wolves in a Premier League fixture on Saturday, while Nmecha and Dortmund will take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on the same day.