Newcastle United want Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini | OneFootball

Newcastle United want to sign Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini this summer after they failed to bring Marc Guehi to the St James’ Park club last summer, according to The Times.

Toons manager Eddie Howe wants to strengthen at the back and the 21-year-old Italy international has emerged as one of his top summer transfer priorities.

Newcastle see the £30 million-rated Scalvini as a long-term replacement for Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, both 33.

The Serie A has huge potential and could ‘become one of the best centre-backs on the planet’ given his incredible performances in the Italian top-flight in recent campaigns.

The youngster would love to play in the Premier League someday, and Newcastle could make his dreams come true this summer.

The Magpies also like Marseille centre-back Leonardo Balerdi, but the Argentina international could be a plan B should they fail in their bid to sign Scalvini.

Getting Guehi to leave Crystal Palace last summer proved impossible for Newcastle, with the Eagles rejecting several bids from them, and it appears they are unwilling to enter into negotiations for the England international again.

The Toons tabled around five bids for the defender, with the last one being £70m, and they have now moved on to other targets, with Scalvini top of their wishlist at the moment.

A shoulder injury restricted him to only eight games last season, but he featured in 78 games across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns, and an ACL injury he picked up in the final game of the 2023-24 ruled him out of Italy’s squad for the 2024 European Championship.

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini believes the Newcastle target is destined for greatness, and he is without a doubt Italy’s most exciting defensive prospect.

The Toons will be landing a huge player if they manage to pip competition to the services of Scalvini in the coming weeks, and Howe could do with him as his squad needs quality depth for next season.