Newcastle signed a quality Premier League center back for free this summer in former Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, though they actually missed out on making it two central defensive additions.
The Magpies were also keen on signing Fulham free agent center back Tosin Adarabioyo, who ended up choosing to sign with Chelsea instead.
Newcastle remain interested in center back options around European football to fortify depth at a position that was hit hard by injuries at the end of the 2023/24 season, with star Sven Botman going down.
Serie A has come into Newcastle’s crosshairs on the transfer market, as the Magpies have reportedly shown interest in Juventus’ scrappy center back Federico Gatti.
Now, Newcastle are being linked to a more exciting and talented option in Serie A, as Louise Taylor and Ed Aarons of The Guardian report that the rising Premier League powers have made contacts for AC Milan star Fikayo Tomori.
Per the report, Milan are requesting more than 40 million pounds in order to part ways with Tomori, and it is unclear how both clubs will proceed with negotiations.
Newcastle have been linked with yet another Milan standout defender in German Malick Thiaw, who has been on their radar for a couple of years now.
Both Tomori and Thiaw are still valued highly by a Milan side that has been looking for more center back depth of their own, but Newcastle may be more interested in the proven Tomori, an England international who came up at Chelsea.
A fee over 40 million pounds is too rich for Tomori, who is a top-class center back but is coming off a season in which his play would not meet that steep of a price tag.
But something a little bit reduced between 30 and 40 million pounds could pique Newcastle’s interest. Tomori can challenge Botman as a starter next to Fabian Schar, who is one of the world’s best and most underrated defenders.
Last season, the 26-year-old Tomori scored four goals in Serie A while averaging 2.7 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game in a strong Champions League campaign for the Rossoneri.
