Newcastle United are preparing to make a second bid for Atalanta's Robin Gosens after their first offer was rejected, according to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown

The report claims that Atalanta turned down an offer worth €30m (£25.1m) for their left wing-back, who has 18 months left on his contract. The Serie A outfit paid just over £1m to sign Gosens from Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo in 2017, and that has proved to be very shrewd recruitment.

Alas, Gosens hasn't played since September, having sustained a hamstring injury in the early stages of a Champions League clash with Young Boys. The German then suffered a setback when he was on the verge of returning in November.

The latest

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are apparently 'ready to return to the assault' in the final week of the transfer window with an improved bid.

It's unclear just how much they'll need to pay in order to persuade Atalanta to part with Gosens.

The verdict

Gosens is hugely effective in that attacking role on the left flank. He has been directly involved in 50 goals (scored 29, set up 21) in his 157 appearances for Atalanta, and six goals (scored two, set up four) in his 13 Germany caps.

Fans might remember his masterclass in the 4-2 victory against Portugal at last summer's European Championship, as he set up Kai Havertz before finding the net himself. It was also his shot which deflected in off Manchester City's Ruben Dias for Germany's first goal.

Sports journalist Josh Bunting dubbed it 'one of the best individual performances' at the tournament, while CBS Sports' James Benge remarked that the 27-year-old was evading Portugal so easily that it was as if he was wearing an 'invisibility cloak', a reference to the Harry Potter books and films.

If Eddie Howe did get his hands on Gosens, he'd probably be most effective in the left midfield slot in the manager's 4-4-2, with full licence to attack, as opposed to being restricted to the left-back position.

In other news, Newcastle are considering a swoop for this PL defender.