Youngster ‘very close’ to joining Newcastle – Already stopped training with current club

Newcastle United could be Inter Milan youngster Kevin Zefi’s next destination, according to a report from Italy.

The Serie A side signed the 18-year-old for their academy from Shamrock Rovers in 2021 and his time in Italy is expected to end soon.

That’s according to Calciomercato, who say the forward is ‘very close’ to making a switch to Newcastle.

The Republic of Ireland 19 international was promoted to the Nerazzurri’s U18 side last year. Operating as an attacking midfielder, he scored 16 goals and registered three assists from 13 games for them. This helped him move up to Inter’s U19 side in November 2022.

Inter lost Cesare Casadei to Chelsea last summer. The report relays this and adds that they are set to lose another young talent as Zefi is ‘ready to fly’ to the Premier League to join the Magpies.

Since the rumours of Newcastle’s interest in the youngster surfaced, Calciomercato state he hasn’t trained under Cristian Chivu’s [Inter U19 manager] orders.

Zefi hasn’t made a first team appearance for Inter. Should he move to Newcastle, he’s likely to start with their youth team rather than immediately being part of Eddie Howe’s squad.