Newcastle United continue to prioritise defensive reinforcements this summer as the Magpies reshape their squad under a period of significant change at St James’ Park.
With several new faces already through the door and a clear need for greater depth and quality at the back, the club has been active in exploring options across Europe.
Recent reports indicate that preliminary contact has been made with the representatives of a highly rated young centre-back currently playing in Serie A.
The player in question is valued at around £42 million by his club, and early discussions have centred on whether he would be open to a move to the Premier League.
Newcastle United have reportedly made contact with Giorgio Scalvini’s camp regarding a potential move for the Atalanta defender. Scalvini, 22, is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young centre-backs after establishing himself following his progression through the ranks at the Bergamo club. He has made 137 appearances for Atalanta since his senior debut in October 2021 and could leave the Serie A side during the current summer transfer window.
According to Tutto Mercato, both Newcastle and fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur have reached out to Scalvini’s agents to enquire about the Italy international. While Atalanta are keen to retain the defender, they are prepared to open discussions at a valuation of £42.5 million. The Italian club will not entertain offers below that figure.
New manager Maurizio Sarri still views Scalvini as an important part of his defensive plans following his appointment earlier this summer.
At this stage, Newcastle have not submitted a formal bid. The conversations so far have been exploratory and focused on gauging the player’s willingness to consider a switch to the Premier League. Only if encouragement is received from Scalvini’s camp would the Magpies be expected to progress to formal talks with Atalanta.
Former Arsenal full-back Sead Kolasinac, now a teammate of Scalvini at Atalanta, previously spoke highly of the young defender. In comments made last November to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Kolasinac highlighted Scalvini’s maturity and technical qualities. “I am struck by the maturity of his 19 years. He reads the game well, he knows what to do with the ball, defend one-on-one, how to use his body in marking: it’s nice to have him alongside in defence. But first of all he is a good guy, even humble: if he doesn’t lose this character, he will have a great career,” he said.
Newcastle have already completed four signings this summer, committing more than £100 million in the process. Bazoumana Traore, Aladji Bamba, Sean Steur and Ewen Jaouen have all joined the club. Despite this activity, a centre-back remains high on the shopping list at St James’ Park, with Scalvini understood to have been among the leading targets.
That order of priority may have shifted in recent days following Eddie Howe’s departure after almost five years in charge. Mathias Jaissle is expected to take over in the dugout after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The change in management introduces an additional layer of uncertainty around transfer strategy, as the new coach will naturally want to assess the squad and imprint his own ideas.
Defensive solidity has been a recurring theme for Newcastle in recent seasons. While the side has shown competitiveness and ambition, consistent depth at centre-back has often been identified as an area for improvement. Adding a young, highly rated profile such as Scalvini would represent a significant statement of intent, combining immediate quality with long-term potential. At 22, he still has considerable room for development, yet he already possesses the physical and tactical attributes that translate well to the demands of the Premier League.
Any move would need to navigate Atalanta’s firm valuation and their desire to keep key players under the new regime of Sarri. The fact that both Newcastle and Tottenham have made contact suggests Scalvini is firmly on the radar of Premier League clubs seeking defensive upgrades this window. For Newcastle, the next steps will depend on the feedback from the player’s representatives and the evolving plans of the incoming managerial team.
The coming weeks will reveal whether the early approach develops into concrete negotiations. In the meantime, the Magpies continue to balance their existing summer business with the need for further strengthening, particularly in defence, as they look to build a competitive squad capable of challenging higher up the table. The interest in Scalvini underlines the club’s willingness to pursue top-level young talent, even amid the uncertainty created by a change in the dugout.
Whether the deal progresses or not, Newcastle’s activity demonstrates a clear desire to reinforce key positions. Supporters will be watching closely to see how the defensive recruitment unfolds under the new leadership and whether the reported approach for the Atalanta star ultimately yields a tangible outcome before the window closes.