Giorgio Scalvini's flaw that Newcastle United are 'double-checking' before pursuing the 21-year-old

Newcastle United have identified Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini as a top summer transfer target and are actively working on a deal. The club sees the 21-year-old as one of Serie A's most talented young defenders and a future star for Italy.

However, Newcastle have a significant concern regarding Scalvini's injury record. They are currently "double-checking" and assessing this before making a formal move. Scalvini suffered an ACL injury in June 2024 that kept him out for over five months, and he subsequently missed 25 matches during the 2024/25 season. In total, he has had 13 different injuries since breaking into Atalanta's first team.

Atalanta values Scalvini between £34.5 million and £43 million, a valuation considered worrying given his recent injury problems. Furthermore, AC Milan are also targeting the defender, which could complicate Newcastle's pursuit.

As an alternative centre-back target, Newcastle remain interested in Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi. However, securing a deal for the England international this summer is expected to be very difficult. Crystal Palace, led by Steve Parish, has set a high price and refuses to sell Guehi cheaply, despite him having only 12 months left on his contract. Consequently, the most likely outcome is that the 25-year-old Guehi will leave Crystal Palace on a free transfer next summer.