Moise Kean in action for Fiorentina.
Newcastle United have been linked with a summer swoop for Fiorentina's Moise Kean.
Newcastle United continue to be linked with a number of would-be transfers ahead of what's expected to be a summer of major investment.
All the noise coming out of St James' Park points towards a flurry of transfer activity before the start of the 2025/26 campaign - having had one eye on their Financial Fair Play situation and ongoing battle with PSR in previous transfer windows.
Eddie Howe's squad need to add more quality to their group if they want to realise their ambition of winning silverware and establish themselves as one of Europe's elite clubs - which is why ongoing transfer speculation linking Alexander Isak with a move from St James' Park is a non-starter.
The club's stance is clear, Isak is not for sale. The likes of Arsenal and Catalan giants Barcelona have been linked with a swoop for Newcastle's in-form striker, who is a key part of their plans for future dominance.
Despite that stance, media reports across Europe continue to link the Swede with a move away from Tyneside, with Calciomercato.it claiming Moise Kean is a potential replacement for Isak this summer.
Of course, it would be poor planning from Newcastle if they didn't have at least one eye on possible strikers in the unlikely event he were to leave but, at this stage, bringing in support and competition for their main man makes far more sense.
The report in Italy indicates that Kean has a reported release clause of €52million (£43.6m) that exists in his current contract at Fiorentina with the Magpies, Arsenal and Spurs all said to be interested. The 25-year-old is the same age as Isak and has impressed with I Viola since agreeing a €13million deal which could rise to €18million with add-ons last summer.
Moise Kean is well-known in the Premier League. (Image: Getty Images)
Kean - an international teammate of Newcastle's Sandro Tonali - has 20 goals in 31 appearances for Fiorentina and has been one of the standout performers in Serie A this campaign. If Fiorentina were to sell, for the £43.6m release clause this summer, then they would bank serious profit.
Newcastle would be signing a striker in a fine fettle in front of goal, but his previous stint in the Premier League raises some doubts about his ability to cut it in England. The former wonderkid was tipped for lofty heights and moved to Everton in 2019 signing a five-year contract for a fee of €27.5million (£23m).
However, Kean struggled at the Toffees, scoring just twice in his first full season in the Premier League, making 33 appearances in all competitions. He'd make just six more appearances for Everton over the next two seasons, with a loan spell at PSG seeing him score 17 goals in 41 appearances in 2020-21.
Juventus would agree a loan deal with an obligation-to-buy Kean for a reported €28million (£23.5m) plus €3million (£2.5m) in add-ons in 2023, but he'd struggle for goals at the Old Lady before his move to Fiorentina.
If you look at Kean's career, it's clear there's a top player in there, but he's struggled with consistency in that time. You would back Howe to get the best out of the Italian at St James' Park, and he would have a familiar face there to help bedding in on Tyneside in the form of Tonali.
He'd give Newcastle a different option to Isak, but there's no way the Toon should consider him as a replacement for the Swede. On the other hand, if he was brought in to be the second striker - with Callum Wilson currently set to leave the club at the end of his contract this summer - Kean would be a more attractive proposition.
Knocking another £10million off the reported release clause would be a big bonus too and Kean would bring some much needed depth up front. On the whole, it's an interesting link and one to keep an eye on.
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