Newcastle United have spent the weekend in talks with Atalanta over a deal for defender Giorgio Scalvini.
After links in June, the Magpies have taken their efforts to bring the 21-year-old defender up a notch by holding official talks with the Serie A side.
Newcastle United are very eager to sign a new centre-back this summer, with Dan Burn and Fabian Schar both 33 and approaching the latter stages of their careers. There has been an acceptance internally that the back line needs to have more youth included in it.
Sven Botman is currently Eddie Howe’s youngest first-team centre-back at 25, but the Newcastle boss wants an even younger player to bring them forward as a team. Giorgio Scalvini has been identified as a target, with the Magpies reportedly valuing him at around £30m.
It was revealed that Newcastle held talks with Atalanta over the weekend in an attempt to push the deal forward quicker. The outcome of those talks has now been shared, and it looks like bad news for the Magpies.
Giorgio Scalvini celebrates after Atalanta reach the Europa League final.
Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images
Newcastle United are debating whether to continue the Giorgio Scalvini deal after Atalanta talks
Unfortunately, it is not the news Newcastle fans were hoping for this weekend. It looks as if Atalanta have well and truly dug their heels in and are not willing to let the 21-year-old go easily.
Reports in Italy claimed that Atalanta see Scalvini as ‘unsellable‘ and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep him at the club. That has since been confirmed by the Northern Echo, who have provided the latest on those talks.
The report reads that Atalanta boss Ivan Juric wants to build his back line around Scalvini next season, and has pleaded with Antonio Percassi, the club’s president, not to sell him. It looks like Juric’s demands will not fall on deaf ears, as Atalanta have told Newcastle that they will do whatever it takes to keep Scalvini in Bergamo.
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The report states that Newcastle’s recruitment team are now facing a dilemma over entering a new round of talks to try and force a deal through or to move on to other targets. The team, led by Eddie Howe, his nephew Andy, and Steve Nickson, will be aware that these talks could become extremely difficult and expensive to finalise.
Newcastle United must back out of Giorgio Scalvini talks if they become too challenging
According to reports in Italy, Atalanta are a historically difficult club to negotiate with. The recent Europa League winners finished third in Serie A last season, so there is no pressure on them to sell Scalvini this summer.
Newcastle saw a gap in the market with Scalvini, believing they could take advantage of his recent injuries to get him at a lower price tag. However, that does not appear to be the case, and Atalanta will only accept an offer which is too good to turn down.
While Scalvini would be an impressive signing, and one that Newcastle fans have already welcomed with open arms, other players need to be signed. Howe will be aware of the Magpies’ transfer budget and will ensure that he and his recruitment team do not pay over the odds for these players.
It has been reported that Newcastle are interested in Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi, but Howe will have to pay a hefty transfer fee for his services.