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Newcastle set their sights on “skilful” £25m ace
Newcastle are expected to be back in the market this summer to recruit a centre-back, and long-term target Fikayo Tomori has once again been tipped to be a potential recruit ahead of next season.
The Magpies have had one of their most successful seasons in seven decades as they broke their major trophy curse to win the Carabao Cup at Wembley Stadium back in March.
This monumental victory has not only brought silverware back to Tyneside but also guaranteed European football as they automatically qualified for Conference League football upon their demolition of the Premier League champions.
Indeed, Eddie Howe will be delighted that there has been huge progress at the club this season, but upgrading their European experience to the Champions League remains a priority in the final games.
Qualifying for the Champions League would put Newcastle in a strong position to recruit top talent when the summer transfer window opens, enabling them to build upon their recent success to compete at an elite level.
Bolstering the defensive options has been a priority for the club for the last 18 months, which became obvious when they made an ambitious attempt to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi last summer.
The North East giants were unable to convince the South London club to part ways with their centre-back, and now, with the help of sporting director Paul Mitchell, will go into the summer with alternative plans.
It is being reported by Italian news outlet Milan Live that Newcastle have set their sights on signing AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori this summer.
The publication claims that the club have requested information on Tomori’s situation at the club and the potential of his availability, with the report further noting that AC Milan would be open to parting ways with the England international.
Should Newcastle sign Fikayo Tomori?
Newcastle currently rely on veterans Fabian Schar and Dan Burn to cover a lot of their defensive performances, which is not ideal in the long term given the pair are both in the latter stages of their career.
Sven Botman’s unfortunate injury issues have hindered his opportunity to play an integral part over the last 12 months, but the club will be hopeful that following his most recent knee issues he will be able to be a strong contributor next season.
Finding a reliable centre-back partner for Botman will be a priority for the club with Schar only extending until the summer of 2026, and Tomori has both age and a wealth of experience on his side.
The 27-year-old – once hailed “skilful” by Franco Baresi – has tallied up 173 appearances for the Rossoneri, with 27 starts in the Champions League which would provide invaluable experience for Newcastle in their pursuit to be more competitive in Europe next season.
Boasting a 93% pass accuracy and 100% successful dribbles this season in the Serie A, the talented centre-back’s impressive speed and ability to read the game would be warmly welcomed on Tyneside, especially with Howe’s dynamic and direct style of play.
In terms of the financial investment for the North East giants, there are varying reports on how much AC Milan will command for Tomori this summer, however, it is expected to be around €30m (£25m).
With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Newcastle will strike up a deal for Tomori this summer, as he could be a great asset for the team in their ambitions to add defensive depth.
