Newcastle United have reportedly been interested in signing Süper Lig midfielder this summer

Newcastle United have apparently inquired about Nicolo Zaniolo’s status, gathering information for a summer swoop.

Newcastle United are ready to rekindle their interest in Galatasaray offensive midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, according to TUTTOmercatoWEB. The Magpies have made initial contact with the Turkish giants in order to discover more about a possible summer transfer.

During the January transfer window, Zaniolo was heavily linked with moves to Tottenham and Juventus. However, after a lengthy transfer drama that saw him removed from the first-team picture at the Stadio Olimpico for attempting to force a big-money move, the 23-year-old eventually completed a €15 million move to Galatasaray.

The former Fiorentina junior player has signed a contract extension with Galatasaray until the summer of 2027. However, following an impressive first few months in Istanbul, a number of bidders have already shown an interest in a deal. The 23-year-old scored five goals in his first ten Turkish Super Lig appearances, helping his team win the league title and qualify for the Champions League.

His performances seem to have alerted the likes of Tottenham and Juventus, who have been monitoring the player for several transfer windows. Now, having already brought promising Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali through the door, it seems Newcastle United have set their eyes on Zaniolo as Eddie Howe looks to add an Italian flavour to his midfield pack.

Galatasaray, for their part, are reluctant to let Zaniolo leave and have already turned down an offer worth €25 million from an unnamed club for him this summer. However, he is thought to have a release clause in his contract that, if activated, would effectively rule out the transfer fee negotiations with the Turkish club.

While signing the Italian international carries a major risk due to his poor injury record, he might be an exciting and influential addition to Newcastle. His technical skills, physical strength, and ability to deliver clutch performances make him a desirable target.

Howe understands the need of having a strong squad in addition to a great starting eleven if they are to go far in Europe and maintain a high finish in the Premier League. However, Zaniolo’s signing may jeopardize the development of young midfield players such as 20-year-old Elliot Anderson and 17-year-old Lewis Miley, both of whom have shone in pre-season and might play similar roles next season.

Also see: Is Newcastle United upgrading with the signing of Harvey Barnes?

The research concludes by adding that Zaniolo continues to pique the interest of Italian investors. However, the addition of Newcastle United to the mix may make it more difficult for Italian clubs to bring him back to his homeland, while there has also been considerable interest in a lucrative move from Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal in recent days.