Arsenal and Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing 25-year-old Italian international Manuel Locatelli.
According to a report from Calciomercatoweb, Newcastle United are keen on signing 25-year-old Italian international Manuel Locatelli. The highly-rated midfielder is on the radar of the Premier League leaders Arsenal as well.
Locatelli has around 18 months left on his contract with Sassuolo. And Juventus are prepared to offer him an extension beyond 2026 upon signing him permanently. It will be interesting to see if the Italian giants are able to convince the 25-year-old to commit his long-term future to the club.
The Italian international joined Juventus with massive expectations but the move has not gone according to plan. Locatelli has not been able to hit top form, and the Serie A giants have been struggling in recent seasons as well.
It will be interesting to see if the midfielder is willing to try out a new challenge. The opportunity to move to the Premier League could be an attractive option for him. And Newcastle United are certainly an ambitious club.
The Magpies are well-placed to secure UEFA Champions League qualification, and they might be able to attract top talents like Locatelli in the summer. Furthermore, they are the richest club in the world and have the finances to tempt Juventus into selling the 25-year-old as well.
A fresh start could be ideal for the Italian international right now, and Newcastle United could use someone like him as well. Bruno Guimaraes is the only reliable midfielder at the club right now, and Eddie Howe needs to add more quality to the position. Locatelli will add defensive cover to the Newcastle midfield, and he will add creativity and drive to the side as well.
The 25-year-old midfielder was regarded as one of the best box-to-box midfielders around Europe when he moved to Juventus following a successful UEFA Euro 2020 campaign with Italy. The player has all the attributes to develop into a top-class player and it will be interesting to see if Eddie Howe can help him fulfill his potential.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have been linked with the player as well, and the Gunners considered signing him in January. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can fend off the competition from Newcastle and secure his services. Arsenal need to add more depth to their midfield as well, and Locatelli would be a superb acquisition for Mikel Arteta.
