After the successful signings of Sandro Tonali and Malick Thiaw in recent seasons, it would be no surprise if Newcastle continued to shop in Italy for future signings.
After years of fans asking Eddie Howe and co to shop outside the Premier League, the former Milan duo are perfect examples of the value for money abroad, costing less than Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga combined.
And ahead of a January transfer window where we will need to shore up some gaps in the squad, a new report reveals yet another Serie A star that’s believed to be high on our wishlist heading into 2026…
Toon targeting Roma star?
According to reports in Italy, Newcastle United are eyeing up a January move for Roma midfielder Manu Kone.
Tuttomercatoweb‘s Marco Conterio writes that club officials have been spotted in Italy to watch the French international, suggesting our interest has continued following links during his time at Borussia Monchengladbach.
The report states that Kone’s name has been discussed in transfer meetings on Tyneside, with the 24-year-old one of the ‘first names’ on Newcastle’s shortlist heading into the January window.
Having only made his loan move from Monchengladbach permanent this year, Kone has shone for Roma as they sit two points clear of Napoli at the top of the table.
Kone is understood to be content with life in the Italian capital, so we face an uphill battle if we want to convince both the player and the club to make the switch to the Premier League in January.
Midfielder links continue
Conterio also claims that if we can’t convince Kone to join in January, then we could look to Roma’s bitter rivals for another midfield option in Lazio’s Mateo Guendouzi.
And the pair of Serie A defensive midfielders join a growing list of options tenuously linked with us so far this month.
From established stars like Scott McTominay, Davide Frattesi and Conor Gallagher, to top prospects like Kees Smit and Aleksandar Stankovic, it’s becoming very clear just where Howe and sporting director Ross Wilson plan on strengthening the squad next.
What does this tell us about the long term future of the likes of Joelinton, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley? The big Brazilian is still an integral member of the starting XI, but has had an increasing number of fitness concerns since the start of last season, meanwhile both Willock and Miley have been linked with moves elsewhere in the last six months as they struggle for consistent first team minutes.
You would expect the arrival of a player of Kone’s calibre would likely enable Willock to be sold, where Crystal Palace have been named as a possible suitor this week.