RONALD KOEMAN still wants Georginio Wijnaldum, but will not ask Everton to match the £25m asking price.

Koeman is keen to make Wijnaldum one of his summer signings after taking over at Goodison Park and he has been promised funds.

But he is reluctant to order Everton’s new owner Farhad Moshiri to meet Newcastle’s valuation.

Rafael Benitez, the Magpies boss, is not in a rush to sell Wijnaldum but has accepted that he is one of the players who could go at the right price.

The Dutch international, like Frenchman Moussa Sissoko, could command a sizable fee and would be open to offers from top-flight clubs rather than play in the Championship. Newcastle paid £14.5m to PSV Eindhoven last summer and Koeman tried to take him to Southampton.

Newcastle believe he has proven himself in the Premier League after scoring 11 goals last season, all of them at St James’ Park, reason, according to the Magpies that his valuation has gone up.

There is also strong interest from abroad and Roma and Napoli have expressed an interest.

Koeman’s brother Erwin, his long-term assistant, actually gave Wijnaldum his break during his time in charge of Feyenoord and he moved to PSV for just £3.5m in the summer of 2011. Everton could try to tempt Newcastle into selling for just over £15m following relegation.

One player who Benitez will fight to keep is Swiss defender Kevin Mbabu, but French club Lyon are interested.

The young and versatile full-back still has a further two years on his contract remaining and Benitez has been impressed. Lyon are hoping, though, that they can strike a loan deal if Benitez is not prepared to offer him a more regular spot in the Newcastle team next season in the Championship.