According to the Chronicle, Newcastle scouts are keeping tabs on Nicolo Zaniolo.
Zaniolo is a 19-year-old Italian midfielder who plays for Roma, and his form this season has caught the attention of Magpie scouts.
He is enjoying a breakout year, making his Serie A debut in September. He arrived at the Stadio Olimpico in the summer, leaving Inter Milan alongside Davide Santon to allow Radja Nainggolan to go the opposite way.
Despite his age, Zaniolo has been a key figure in Rome. He almost guided them to the quarter finals of the Champions League, scoring twice as Roma beat Porto 2-1 in the first leg. However, Porto would qualify.
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His performances have prompted interest from all over Europe, so Newcastle might struggle to get a deal done.
Zaniolo is a wanted man
According to Sport, Real Madrid are also interested in the teenager.
While this proves that Newcastle are clearly tracking a real talent, it also suggests that signing him might be tricky.
If you had the option of Real Madrid or Newcastle United, even the most die hard of Geordies would struggle to choose the North East over the Spanish capital.
Then again, Rafa Benitez had to swap Madrid for Newcastle and you don’t hear him complaining.