‘Planning to stay here’: Hat-trick hero rules out Newcastle or Everton move

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Giovanni Simeone appears to have ruled out a summer move to the Premier League with the Newcastle United target hoping to stay at Serie A high-flyers Hellas Verona, speaking to L’Arena. 

Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to one of Italian football’s most feared marksmen is that no one is referring to Simeone as merely ‘Diego’s son’ these days.

The Argentina international is making a name for himself in his own right in Verona. A hat-trick against Venezia last weekend was enough to make 2021/22 with most prolific campaign of his career to date.

Simeone has 15 goals in Serie A. Four of those came on a magical night against Lazio in October. There was another two in a famous victory over Juventus a few weeks after that, including a 25-yard screamer into the top corner. 

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Simeone’s exploits have not gone unnoticed. 

According to TEAMtalk and Tuttomercatoweb, Premier League trio Newcastle, Everton and West Ham have all made enquiries since the turn of the year.

Some have suggested that Hellas Verona could trigger the £10 million release clause in Simeone’s contract (he is still owned by Cagliari) before selling him on for a quick profit. 

But the former Fiorentina youngster has no interest in being used as a pawn in a game of financial chess. 

Is Giovanni Simeone staying in Serie A?

“We (me and my family) are planning to stop and live here. It is different. I feel like I’ve always played here and I’ve been here for less than a year!” Simeone explains.

“Verona is perfect. Not too big, nor too small. People have great respect and I feel I belong a little to this wonderful place.

“As for Hellas, I’ve been saying that from my first day here (that I want to stay). I’d like the club to redeem me.”

Newcastle might have been given access to almost unbridled financial riches by those ambitious Saudi Arabian owners.

But, with Simeone joining Sven Botman and Hugo Ekitike in giving the nouveau-riche Magpies the cold shoulder, finding players willing to sign up to Europe’s most ambitious football project is proving more difficult than anyone may have expected.