In the constant churn of football transfer rumors, a new name has emerged as a potential target for Newcastle United: Manuel Locatelli, the midfield general from Juventus.
Despite the team’s strong midfield, led by the highly-regarded trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton, the club is reportedly exploring options to add more depth and experience, especially with the demanding schedule and potential player absences.
According to a report from Mark Brus, Newcastle is one of five clubs in the running for the Italian midfielder.
While Juventus sees him as a key player and is reluctant to sell, an offer around €40 million (£35 million) might be “unrejectable” for the club.
This potential transfer is even more interesting given the success Newcastle has already had in signing top talent from Italy, with the successful acquisition of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan.
There were even rumors that Tonali might have been considering a move away from Tyneside at the end of last season, but he ultimately stayed and has continued to be a star in the midfield.
Locatelli is a highly sought-after player, with other Premier League clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa, and West Ham United also showing interest.
The German club Bayer Leverkusen is also in the mix. The Italian midfielder, who has become a key part of the Juventus team, has just under three years left on his contract.
He is a defensive midfielder by trade but is also capable of playing a more central role, and his playing style has been compared to that of Bruno Guimaraes.
While a player of Locatelli’s caliber would be a significant addition to the squad, his signing could mean that manager Eddie Howe is considering a change to his starting midfield lineup.
Newcastle, of all the clubs reportedly interested in Locatelli, perhaps needs a new midfielder the least, especially since they also brought in the versatile Jacob Ramsey this past summer.
This makes the reported pursuit even more intriguing, as it suggests the club is not just looking to fill a specific need, but to further enhance the overall quality and depth of the squad for the long term.
This move would be a clear sign of the club’s ambition to compete with the top teams in the league and in Europe.
