Abde Ezzalzouli not interested in move to Newcastle - Report

Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli.

The Moroccan international has emerged as a top target for the Magpies as they look to strengthen their options down the flanks.

Real Betis are in no rush to sell and are reportedly unwilling to field any offers. However, Abde does have a £51.8m release clause, which Newcastle are apparently contemplating activating.

It was recently reported that Abde Ezzalzouli would be keen on a move to Tyneside, but as is typical in football, the winds have changed already.

According to a report from Spanish outlet ABC Sevilla, Abde is happy at Real Betis, but is open to a move should the right markers be hit.

Ezzalzouli wants Champions League football 

The outlet makes the point that Real Betis will be competing in the Champions League next season and Abde is unlikely to want to leave a club where he's happy to move to a club that isn't competing in Europe.

They claim that the winger would see playing in the Champions League as being worth more than a pay increase before aiming a thinly veiled dig at Newcastle and a few other interested clubs.

"Abde has narrowed his options to truly powerful clubs that can meet his buyout clause or offer similar amounts and provide him with greater sporting challenges, such as winning national and international titles. And there aren’t that many at that level."

Can Newcastle sell the project to Abde?

Newcastle could certainly offer Abde more money and meet his buyout clause, and in time, we have no doubt they could offer him those sporting challenges he so craves, but without European football to offer next season, our bargaining position is decidedly weaker.

Should Abde be able to see the bigger picture and look at Newcastle's overall rise in the last four years, then perhaps he could be persuaded, but it does feel like our grip on this one is loosening.

It's going to be worth watching Morocco at the World Cup and seeing how Abde performs before we start to have a meltdown.