£30m World Cup sensation could be Newcastle United’s big summer signing – if Aston Villa don’t get there first
Newcastle have been linked with a World Cup winger with an eye for goal - but could Aston Villa beat them to a transfer?
Newcastle United fans are probably getting used to the idea of other teams beating them to potential signings by now – and if reports surrounding their search for a new winger prove to be true, there’s every chance that it could happen yet again.
Fresh reports suggest that the Magpies are keen on striking a deal for Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa, who is currently on World Cup duty with Algeria, but they don’t seem to be the only side who are interested: Aston Villa are also strongly linked with a transfer bid. So how good is Hadj Moussa, and how do negotiations seem set to go?
Newcastle & Aston Villa set to bid for Anis Hadj Moussa – reports
According to a new story from Sky Sport Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri, both Newcastle and Aston Villa are involved in “advanced” discussions over a deal which would take the 24-year-old winger to the Premier League – but it’s not yet clear which side might win the race.
While Feyenoord are said to have “no intention” of letting Hadj Moussa, who still has four years left on his contract, leave De Kuip, it’s also suggested that they will accept offers in the region of €35m (£30m). That’s not a fee that’s likely to dissuade Premier League sides.
Hadj Moussa himself apparently has his heart set on a move to England, and appears to have turned down enquiries from Saudi Pro League teams Al-Ahli and Al-Qadisah. It’s hinted that other Premier League teams might be interested to some degree, but Newcastle and Aston Villa are alleged to be his “most credible destinations” as he seeks a step up after two years in the Netherlands.
Assuming the reporting is accurate, it looks highly likely that Hadj Moussa will be on the move this summer, with one of Newcastle or Villa likely to be the beneficiary – although it appears that there is still plenty of work to be done, with no suggestion that formal offers have yet been made, or that personal terms have been agreed with the player by either side.
What kind of player is Hadj Moussa?
A left-footed right winger who has acted as a stand-in captain for Feyenoord on several occasions, Hadj Moussa fits the archetype of the classic inverted winger – he has fast feet, a quick change of direction and excellent close control and dribbling skills which he typically uses to cut inside defenders.
A high-volume dribbler who beats his man with regularity, Hadj Moussa often looks to get past defenders by slowing down before surging quickly past them, and has the acceleration to make it work frequently. It’s a skillset which has also made him highly productive around the penalty area.
Hadj Moussa has scored 24 goals in his 81 appearances for Feyenoord, as well as providing 10 assists, and has a lethal left-footed shot – although he seldom scores from range. He’s a winger who looks to get inside the box as often as possible before playing his final ball or taking a shot on.
He’s also a strong crosser and a genuine creative threat – while his total of six assists in the Eredivisie in the 2025/26 season is relatively unremarkable, that owes something to poor finishing by his team-mates, and he created 11.14 expected assists over the course of the campaign.
He backs his productivity up with hard work off the ball and he forces an impressive number of high turnovers, which should appeal to sides like Newcastle and Aston Villa who like to press high up the pitch.
He does have downsides. He’s not remarkably strong and can be outmuscled, and nor is he a threat in the air, while his high volume of dribbling attempts means that he often bites off a little more than he can chew going forward. He’s also distinctly one-footed with a weak right foot, and that can make him somewhat predictable – not that many Dutch defences have been able to stop him even when they know that’s going to be cutting back onto his left whenever possible.
Based on his productivity and the quality of his technique, £30m seems like a reasonable price point for either Newcastle or Aston Villa. The question now is whether Eddie Howe’s side can finally win a race in the transfer market.