Newcastle United were already linked with Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini, Gleison Bremer of Juventus and Torino’s Alessandro Buongiorno, so step up pressure after losing Sven Botman for six to nine months.
The Magpies were rocked this afternoon by news that tests showed the knee injury Botman sustained during the FA Cup match against Manchester City is worse than previously thought.
Scans showed the anterior cruciate ligament is torn and a formal statement from the Premier League club confirms Botman is expected to return in six to nine months.
That inevitably means they need reinforcements in defence for the start of next season and are likely to turn towards Serie A for new signings.
Atalanta centre-back Scalvini has also attracted interest from Manchester United, while Bremer of Juventus is another possible candidate for Newcastle.
Both are expected to have a price-tag of at least €50m.
A cheaper alternative would be Italy international Buongiorno, who confirmed in an interview this week that he is dreaming of playing in the Champions League.
Torino had resisted the approaches from Atalanta and Milan in January, but could be tempted to sell for a large proposal.
Sven Botman will undergo surgery next week after suffering a knee injury against Manchester City.
A scan has confirmed that he sustained an injury to his ACL and he is expected to return within 6-9 months.
We wish you a full and speedy recovery, Sven ❤️
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 20, 2024