Newcastle United’s blockbuster first January signing could be £35m season-defining gamble
Newcastle United could reignite their interest in a long-term target that’s proven his quality in Serie A
By hook or by crook, Newcastle United are finding a way to win again after a subdued start which left many supporters fearing that the team had taken a backwards step.
A lot can change in football in a short period of time, this time 12 months ago, Newcastle were on a nine match winning streak and on their way to winning their first domestic trophy in 70 years, yet by December some sections of the fanbase claimed they were unsure whether Eddie Howe was the man to lead the team forward after a shock Tyne-Wear derby defeat.
Fine margins can make or break a campaign for a manager and this was perhaps encapsulated by the thrilling 4-3 win over Leeds United which saw the Magpies end the matchday in sixth as opposed to sinking back into the bottom half of the table.
A similarly chaotic 3-3 draw with Bournemouth in the FA Cup, which saw Howe’s side score a 95th minute equaliser - and what looked to be an 118th minute winner in extra time only to concede again, and then win on penalties also showed that while the team are finding a way to win they aren’t quite controlling games in a manner that feels sustainable.
Nevertheless, the Magpies are one of only a few teams to be competing on four fronts heading into the New Year. They are in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, the fourth round of the FA Cup, are on track for at least a play-off finish in the Champions League and could still feasibly finish inside the top five in the league amid a lack of consistency across the board from a number of teams competing for Europe.
But if Newcastle are going to make this season a success then it’s likely they’ll have to take risks this summer and strengthen their side in a number of areas, including central defence.
Newcastle United tipped to reignite interest in Giorgio Scalvini
Giorgio Scalvini is reportedly back on Newcastle’s shortlist this month following well-documented claims that the club were interested in the Italian over the summer.
Scalvini is considered one of Italy’s finest young products to emerge in years. The 22-year-old, 6 ft 4 in defender, plays his football at Atalanta after progressing through the club’s academy around five years ago and has already made 115 career appearances while finding the net seven times and making five assists.
The talented defender, who was named as Italy’s best young player in 2023, has helped Atalanta consistently mix it with the best teams in Serie A while consistently outperforming expectations. In 2023/24, he played a pivotal role in the team’s Europa League journey and their final triumph over Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen to end the Spanish coaches 51-game unbeaten streak while also helping the team to a fourth place finish and the final of Coppa Italia.
Scalvini was scheduled to play for Italy at Euro 2024 after making the initial squad for the tournament but missed out due to an ACL injury which ruled him out for almost the entirety of the next season.
He’s since returned from that setback, but concerns over his fitness have never been far away. He’s only played eight times this season due to a combination of hamstring and abductor problems, but has managed to start all of the last three matches in a run which has directly coincided with Atalanta’s drastically improved form in Serie A.
Should Newcastle make a move for Scalvini
Newcastle on paper are well stocked in central defence with summer signing Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Fabian Schar all proving themselves as reliable options for the North East club.
However, they are currently experiencing something of a crisis in defence. Tino Livramento, who recently sustained another injury, just days after returning from his last setback, is out. While Hall has struggled to stay fit for a long run of matches since his ankle injury towards the end of last season.
Burn, who is currently injured, has played left-back without ever looking a natural fit on occasion. While centre-back Schar, who has stepped up to play regularly in recent weeks, now faces a period on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle ligament injury.
Factor in that Jamaal Lascelles, who has played just 19 minutes of football since April 2024, is likely to leave and Emil Krafth’s injury troubles and it’s clear to see that Newcastle are short in defence.
Sven Botman hasn’t had a good time with injuries either - and it’s worth noting that Schar, aged 34, contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
Signing a central defender like Scalvini could provide Newcastle with the quality they need to fire on all cylinders while also future-proofing the backline for years to come.
It’d be a slight risk given the defender’s injury record, but for a reported valuation of £35m (via TEAMtalk) it could prove a really shrewd deal given the club’s lack of options plus the centre-back’s ability to develop into a real modern day great.