Report: Newcastle and Watford plan summer move for Mattia Destro

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Mattia Destro’s form for Serie A side Bologna is seemingly enough for Premier League duo Newcastle United and Watford to make a move

Mattia Destro was supposed to be the next great Italian centre forward.

There were very high hopes for the exciting young striker when Roma paid £14 million to sign him from Siena in the summer of 2012, as reported by the club’s official website. But, thanks to a series of injuries and intermittent form, Destro has never really fulfilled his potential.

After failing to make the grade at Roma, netting just three times on loan at AC Milan, the 26-year-old now finds himself at mid-table Bologna, for whom he has scored five Serie A goals all season.

Although according to Tuttobolognaweb, this has not put off either Newcastle United or Watford from planning to bring Destro to the Premier League at the end of the season.

The report adds that the English duo have been keen on Destro during the last two transfer windows, but it is understood that Rafa Benitez is ready to make another move with an offer of around £9 million being planned.

Newcastle have lacked a reliable goal-scorer all season and have scored fewer than a goal a game on average in 2017/18. Dwight Gayle and Joselu have struggled while Islam Slimani would likely cost far more than Destro if the Magpies wanted to make his loan move permanent.

And, over at Watford, Andre Gray is the Hornet’s top-scoring striker this season with just four. Troy Deeney has struggled for consistent starts while Jerome Sinclair still seems far off a first-team berth.

But any deal for Destro is likely to rely on Newcastle or Watford retaining their place in the Premier League.