Newcastle United want to sign a new defender this summer, and are interested in Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini.
Scalvini is one of Newcastle United’s transfer targets as Eddie Howe looks to bolster his defensive options.
The Newcastle United manager is eager to land a new centre-back, with the club having failed to land Marc Guehi last summer.
Both Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are in their mid-thirties, while Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are returning from long-term injuries for Newcastle.
As such, Scalvini is of interest, and a price appears to have been set.
Giorgio Scalvini looks on during a Serie A game between Inter Milan and Atalanta.
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
Atalanta could sell Giorgio Scalvini for £52m
According to The Chronicle, the Italian club are briefing that the 21-year-old is simply not for sale this summer.
However, the report goes on to suggest a price of around £52million could be enough to land the Italian international.
Atalanta are not likely to be easy to deal with, however, and will surely drive a hard bargain.
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Newcastle United spending big this summer
If they were to pay that price, the club’s spending would pass the £100million mark.
Indeed, Anthony Elanga is set to join Newcastle for £55million, making him one of Newcastle’s most expensive players in history.
Alexander Isak is Newcastle’s record signing at £63million, while Sandro Tonali sits second in the list at £55million.
Newcastle’s transfer budget is thought to be around £150million, albeit there have also been suggestions it is in fact slightly higher.
Still, Newcastle are shopping towards the top end of the transfer market. As such, their targets are naturally going to cost a huge amount of money.
It means the focus simply has to be on quality over quantity. Howe would no doubt love to strengthen the Newcastle United squad across the board, but spending restrictions do not allow that.
Either way, Newcastle have spent almost £500million since the takeover in 2021. This summer, that total will increase significantly.