Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Empoli midfielder Kristjan Asllani this summer.

According to an exclusive from Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari, Newcastle United have entered the race to sign Serie A star Kristjan Asllani and are planning to meet with Empoli next week over a potential summer swoop.

However, the Magpies will face stiff competition from Inter Milan, who believe they have an advantage in the hunt for the 20-year-old Albanian thanks to their solid connection with his parent club. AC Milan are also in the running for the promising defensive midfielder.

The summer transfer market opens this week, and Newcastle have stepped up their recruiting efforts, with manager Eddie Howe eager to bolster his squad across the board.

The Toon boss is looking to bring in midfielders this summer and intends to replenish the squad with young players, with Empoli midfielder Asllani one of the names on their radar. In fact, they have asked for a meeting with the player’s current club to initiate talks, which are set to take place this week, according to Alfredo Pedulla.

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Having progressed through the Empoli youth setup, the 20-year-old prodigy has just enjoyed a breakout season in Italy after making his senior debut in early 2021. Empoli were a newly-promoted club in the Italian top-flight this season, but they performed admirably, finishing in a comfortable 14th position. And the development of Asllani, who made a total of 23 appearances in his debut Serie A season, has been one of the highlights.

The defensive midfielder’s impressive displays and potential have seemingly caught the eye of both Milan clubs. Asllani has been named as Inter’s priority target to serve as a backup to Marcelo Brozovic heading into next season, a position that they believe will need to be filled this summer.

The Nerazzurri would prefer to sign him this summer, but rivals AC Milan are willing to let him return to Empoli on loan for another season in order to help them stay up and give him more first-team experience. Now, cash-rich Newcastle are also interested in snapping up Asllani, making things interesting as they hold the finances to outmuscle both Milan clubs.

Newcastle are eager to improve their squad season, equipped with their newfound wealth as a result of their takeover late last year. Due to Financial Fair Play rules, they will have to play their transfer cards wisely. Signing young players with high potential for a reasonable fee might help keep the balance.

Primarily a deep-lying midfielder with the versatility to operate in advanced positions, Asllani could be a viable target for Newcastle. The 20-year-old can be a rotation option initially and gradually grow into an integral part of the first team. Reports in Italy further claim that Asllani prefers to continue his development in Italy, but he has not ruled out a transfer overseas, with a move to England now seeming like a real possibility.

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