For the second time in a few days, Turin newspaper Tuttosport go big on Newcastle United interest in an Italy based player. The first was Torino’s Josef Martinez, with it being claimed the striker was choosing between joining Newcastle or Hamburg.
The latest is Cheick Keita, a 20 year old playing for Virtus Entella in Serie B. As far as we can see the claim originally came from The Sun, but Tuttosport have picked it up and run with it.
Tuttosport would say if their claims were from The Sun, and they don’t, meaning someone has fed them information about the potential Newcastle transfer. Adding to what had been claimed in England, Tuttosport say Virtus Entella don’t want to sell and will refuse any offers not over €2m.
That’s not exactly a huge fee for Rafael Benitez’s side. Whilst in Serie B, €2m may seem like a big price, for a Championship club aiming for promotion it’s really no barrier whatsoever.
If Newcastle United genuinely want Cheick Keita then they can almost certainly agree a deal.
The Italian market is warming to Newcastle United. With the club willing to do almost anything to gain promotion, and Benitez being well known in Italy after managing both Inter Milan and Napoli, it would be no surprise if the manager has a line of agents ready to offer him a player in January.
The injury to Aleksandar Mitrovic will only encourage transfer rumours.
