The 23-year-old is currently on international duty with Italy’s Under-21s.
Newcastle hope to complete a club-record deal for AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali within days, PA understands.
Sporting director Dan Ashworth was pictured in the Italian city after jetting off to try to negotiate terms for a move believed to top the £60m the club spent on Swedish striker Alexander Isak last summer.
Reports from Italy suggest the 23-year-old, who is expected to captain his country in their opening Group D match against France at the European Under-21 Championship on Thursday night, has agreed to a move.
A successful conclusion of talks would push Newcastle’s transfer spending under their new owners past the £300m mark.
Head coach Eddie Howe has identified Tonali as the midfielder he needs in order for Bruno Guimaraes in particular to thrive in an advanced role.
Howe has pledged to strengthen his squad for the new campaign, which will see the Magpies play Champions League football for the first time since the 2002-03 season, as they attempt to challenge both domestically and on the European front.
The 45-year-old guided the club to fourth place in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup final last season as he took a big step forward, but this time he expects a response from Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea. in the race for the top four.
Howe was at pains to point out the spending constraints the club must operate under, but also signaled his intention to take on quality rather than quantity this summer.
Tonali, who was a substitute in the Italy senior team’s 2-1 Euro 2024 qualifier defeat to England in March, made 48 appearances in all competitions for Milan last season and started both legs of their Champions League semi-final defeat to city rivals Inter.
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