Newcastle United have had Atalanta's goal machine Mateo Retegui put to them by intermediaries ahead of the summer window.
The Argentina-born Italy international has blown scouts away this season with his performances, not least a four-goal blast in a 5-0 away win in Verona. His tally of 28 strikes has made clubs across Europe sit up and take note.
Retegui cost Atalanta what now looks a bargain fee of just €25million (£21.4m) back in August when he signed from Genoa. Once described as "rough diamond" in the Italian media, the 6ft 1in striker, who qualifies playing for the Azzurri due to Sicilian family ties, has simply torn up Serie A this season.
The man who scored against England in 2023 on his Italy debut could be available for around the £50m mark this summer with Arsenal credited with interest in the Argentinian-born player. When former Italy boss Roberto Mancini called up Retegui to his squad back in 2023 he said: "He is a classical centre-forward - he reminds me of Gabriel Batistuta when he arrived in Italy.
"He needs time though - he still has plenty to learn. Playing in Serie A would do him good. He would become stronger, learn the language and communicate better with his team-mates."
Head Newcastle scout Steve Nickson is a regular visitor to Atalanta and needs no reminders of Retegui's capabilities. Signed by Genoa from Tigre in Argentina, a battle for his signature could be about to commence.
United are keen to add another striker to their books this summer with a decision on Callum Wilson's future expected soon. Wilson's contract expires at the end of the season although Eddie Howe refused to rule out an extension.
Steve Nickson on scouting mission with cream of Europe's talent spotters
Newcastle United's head of recruitment Steve Nickson is rubbing shoulders with talent spotters from top clubs in Europe this week at the Under-17 African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
Nickson is representing Newcastle with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Southampton all present from the Premier League. The heavyweight scouting list also includes Paris St-Germain, Lyon, Monaco, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica and Real Sociedad as clubs slug it out for the emerging talent in Africa.
Newcastle's main talent spotter Nickson, credited with landing deals for stars like Ayoze Perez, Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes during his time on Tyneside, has been spotted making notes on some of the excellent emerging talents on show at the tournament.
The event is more than just a tournament with Nickson networking with agents after games and lining up potential future deals. Several names have already been put to Nickson including exciting Mali attacking midfielder Seydou Dembele and 16-year-old centre-forward Alynho Haidara of the Ivory Coast.
Another is Burkina Faso's Sako Mohamed Junior with the 16-year-old midfielder attracting Premier League interest. Top sides are trying to offer Sako a pre-contractual agreement ahead of his 17th birthday. Scouts like Nickson are also intensifying their research int the Under-17 market with the FIFA U17 World Cup which takes place in Qatar in November.
The tournament in Morocco is winding down, with the final between the hosts and Mali taking place on Saturday and the third-place play-off between Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast on Friday.
New deal for long-serving Newcastle stopper?
There have been fresh suggestions that Geordie goalkeeper Mark Gillespie will be handed a new one-year extension to his current deal which is due to expire in June. Gillespie, 33, has not made a competitive appearance this season but has been named 13 times on the bench.
The former Carlisle goalie is deemed very much a squad man who keeps standards in training high.
