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Newcastle are locked in discussions with Italian giants Inter Milan in an attempt to thrash out a £50m deal for one of the Nerazzurri’s star players, according to numerous reports.
The Magpies overperformed to land a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season and with Champions League football to prepare for next term, Newcastle have been showing plenty of ambition in the summer transfer market.
With United already leading the race to sign Leicester City’s James Maddison, Newcastle are now believed to be plotting a move to bring 26-year-old midfielder Nicolo Barella to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle in sensational Barella swoop
Nicolo Barella is considered the jewel in the crown in what is a talented Inter Milan squad and the hard-working schemer showcased his quality during the Italians’ surge to the Champions League final in 2022/23.
Already a European Championship winner with Italy and Serie A champion with Inter, Barella has buckets of top-class pedigree and securing the pass-master’s signature would represent a major coup for Newcastle.
Barella came through the youth ranks at Cagliari in his early career before sealing a move to Inter Milan back in 2019. The midfielder has gone on to establish himself as a tour-de-force in Italian football and Barella is recognised as one of the most accomplished players in his position in world football.
Named in the Serie A Team of the Year four times and nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or in 2021, Barella combines energy with flawless technique, and the lynchpin, who turned 26 in February, has the right package of skills to be a major success in the Premier League.
Conflicting reports starting to emerge?
However, while the British press have been busily penning giddy pieces talking up Barella’s potential move to Newcastle, back in Italy, reporters have been pouring cold water on the links.
Barella is a well-publicised boyhood Inter Milan supporter, who seems content and is highly valued by his current employers. A muted fee of £50m for his services also seems suspiciously low for a player of his quality, with numbers close to £80m already bandied about in Italy as a more realistic value for the Azzurri international.
While Newcastle do have Champions League football to offer Barella, Inter Milan do too, thanks to their third-place finish in Serie A in 2022/23.
But while convincing Barella to swap Milan for England’s north east could prove difficult, Newcastle’s pursuit of the midfielder does highlight the club’s ambition.
The Magpies look ready to attack the summer market with vigour following their superb fourth-place finish under Eddie Howe last season and they are expected to chase more high-profile targets before the window slams shut on September 1st.
Last year, Newcastle smashed their transfer record to land Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad in a deal worth £60m, though the Magpies might have to sanction another fee north of that figure to wrangle Barella away from Inter Milan.
Newcastle have also been linked with a move for long-term target Scott McTominay, who leave Man Utd this summer in search of more regular first-team opportunities.
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