- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands Juventus are ready to listen to offers for an Italian star who Newcastle United are understood to be interested in.
Newcastle United are keen on making signings this summer with the club understood to be keen on a forward addition with Wolves’ Pedro Neto among the names discussed by those at St James’ Park.
Another position the club would be keen on strengthening is the midfield department and HITC have reported that the club are keen on Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.
However, another name has entered the fray as sources have confirmed to HITC that Juventus‘ Federico Gatti has been made available for transfer this summer.
Gatti is not the only Juventus player who Newcastle are keen on
Gatti is an Italian centre-back who has proven to be quite a useful option in the Juventus squad under Massimiliano Allegri.
He made 16 starts in Serie A for Juve during the 2022/23 season but the 2023/24 campaign is when Gatti was really given his starting berth for the Turin giants.
Under Allegri, Gatti started 30 Serie A games for Juventus but with Thiago Motta coming in, the future of the Italian, who netted four goals in the Italian league, is unclear.
As well as interest in Gatti, HITC understands Newcastle are interested in defender Dean Huijsen, as are Liverpool, but the Bundesliga may be his most likely destination with Bayer Leverkusen and Vfb Stuttgart leading the chase whilst Bayern Munich are also understood to be keen.
Newcastle have also asked about Matias Soule, whose future could also lie away from Turin, and they are not alone with a host of sides linked namely Crystal Palace, Southampton, West Ham United.
Aston Villa are understood to have also talked about Soule being part of their deal for Douglas Luiz to Juventus but went with Samuel Illing-Junior instead.
There is also understood to be interest from Atalanta and Bologna in the Argentine winger Soule which is why Juve are keen to offload players because they have so many potential deals in the works for new manager Thiago Motta.
After doing their deal for Villa’s Luiz – they are trying to finalise an agreement for Teun Koopmeiners with Atalanta and with Bologna for Riccardo Calafiori and Soule is of interest to both.
Juventus’ summer plans are set to benefit Newcastle
The arrival of Motta to Turin is one of the reasons behind Gatti’s availability with Juventus set to line up in a back four which could spell trouble for the Italian central defender.
With Calafiori’s likely arrival from Bologna this summer, alongside Brazilian’s Gleison Bremer and Danilo, it is likely that Gatti could be pushed out.
It would be a sad way for Gatti’s time in Italy to end as former manager Massimiliano Allegri was a big of his, he said: “Gatti has so much energy and is like a sponge, he soaks up all the information you throw at him.”
HITC understands that Gatti is someone that Newcastle were aware of and, having missed out on Tosin Adarabioyo, could become a serious option at St James’ Park alongside Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly.
Sources have told HITC that the Italian giants Juve expect other clubs to declare their interest in Gatti, who is currently away on international duty with Italy at the European Championships in Germany.
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