Nicolo Zaniolo celebrates after scoring
According to a report from the Chronicle, Newcastle United are scouting AS Roma starlet Nicolo Zaniolo ahead of a potential summer swoop.
Nicolo Zaniolo, 19, has been hitting the headlines in the Serie A this season and his meteoric rise hasn’t gone unnoticed. The youngster, who joined AS Roma from Inter Milan alongside Davide Santon, as part of the deal to send Radja Nainggolan to Inter Milan, has netted five goals and assisted twice in 27 games across all competitions.
Therefore, it is no surprise that there is a lot of interest in the young Italian and Newcastle are the latest to scout him. Roma will undoubtedly do everything to keep hold of Zaniolo, as he has been one of the team’s best players so far this season. However, Newcastle should go all out to land the Roma star after breaking their transfer record in January.
The Magpies splashed out a record fee of £21million for Miguel Almiron in the winter transfer window and the move has worked very well so far. Almiron impressed on his full-debut against Huddersfield Town, and is clearly having a positive effect on a team that was previously struggling for form and goals.
Newcastle fans are understandably thrilled with the way the Paraguayan playmaker has started life on Tyneside but if the Magpies are to improve next season, they surely need to invest more. Interest in Zaniolo clearly tells Rafael Benitez is still not satisfied with the attacking options at his disposal and wants to strengthen them in the summer.
Zaniolo is an exciting, versatile attacker who has managed to make a strong impression in his debut season at Roma. Able to play in a multitude of positions in the attacking third, the young Italian has caught the attention with his silky dribbling skills and the ability to carve open defences with through balls.
He is a gifted player, blessed with good turn of pace, aerial ability and ability to shoot from long distance. Despite standing at 6ft. 3in tall, the teenager can glide past players on the pitch and backs his ability to beat his marker every time. His maturity belies his age and the calmness he exudes on the ball is something is a very rare sight for someone so young.
Given the potential that Zaniolo has shown in his fledgling career at the top level with Roma, it isn’t surprising to see Benitez’s Newcastle planning a summer swoop.
Zaniolo is contracted with Roma until the summer of 2022 and given the impact he has made in his debut season at Stadio Olimpico, it’ll be tough to lure him away to Tyneside for Benitez.
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The Italian is an exciting player and would be a top fit for the Premier League outfit but unless Newcastle don’t break their bank for the 19-year-old, a transfer in the summer looks highly unlikely.