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Newcastle United will be seeking for additional players to add depth to their squad ahead of their Champions League campaign next season, and a new update on a prospective transfer target has emerged.
What’s the latest on Newcastle United’s pursuit of Federico Chiesa?
Newcastle has made a bid for Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, according to the Italian publication Corriere della Sera (via Sport Witness).
According to the source, Chiesa is interested in a move to St James’ Park this summer after rejecting down a move to Aston Villa. However, despite a reported proposal, there is no indication of a transfer value or how far Newcastle are willing to go to win his signature this summer.
What makes Chiesa so special?
There is no doubt that Eddie Howe will be delighted with the rapid progress and success delivered by his current crop of Newcastle players; however, with a long-awaited return to Champions League football on the horizon, it would be advantageous to bring in some more European competition experience.
The Magpies have already secured the signing of Sandro Tonali to provide additional depth to their midfield presence ahead of next season, and the focus now appears to be on reinforcing the attacking line, with Leicester City’s Harvey Barnes also allegedly a target.
As a result, the signing of Chiesa would be a great piece of business given his clear talent and quality, as well as the advantage over Barnes in having a wealth of experience in playing on the European stage for Juventus.
Despite his injury struggles over the last 18 months, the Italian winger has been a stand-out performer in Europe for the Serie A giants with 25 appearances tallied up over the Europa and Champions League, as well as eight goals and three assists in those respective competitions.
Now Howe could benefit from adding another Italian whiz into his squad and from his midfield role, Tonali could be an incredible partner for Chiesa should his international teammate join him in the North East.
Whilst Newcastle already boasts the talents of Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali is an exceptional presence in the centre of the pitch and will make a huge impact on the attacking threat next season.
As per FBref, the newly-signed Newcastle dynamo ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues over the last 12 months for assists, as well as ranking in the top 25% for progressive carries and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes played, demonstrating that he is a reliable creative outlet.
Meanwhile, Chiesa – who was once hailed a “joy to watch” by journalist Josh Bunting – ranks in the top 20% of his positional peers for total shots, assists and progressive carries per 90 over the last 12 months, so he could really benefit from Tonali’s creativity to make an instant impact in the Newcastle forward line and boost goal contributions across all competitions.
Despite a reported offer from Newcastle, it is reported that Juventus are demanding a transfer fee of €60 million (£51 million) this summer, which could prove difficult for the Magpies due to Financial Fair Play restrictions limiting their ability to spend heavily, so a move for Chiesa would likely necessitate the sale of another player in the squad.
Having said that, if Newcastle can sign Chiesa this summer, it will demonstrate their ambitious ambition to contend comfortably in the Champions League next season, as well as provide Howe with another excellent player to employ in the final third.