Newcastle United have presented Alessio Romagnoli with a contract to join as a free agent ahead of his terms at AC Milan expiring, but Eddie Howe faces rivalling interest from newly-promoted Fulham.
The defender will stand down as the Rossoneri’s captain on June 30 after seven years at the San Siro. AC Milan have opted against renewing the terms agreed with Romagnoli in 2018, after he has fallen down the pecking order with Stefano Pioli preferring Fikayo Tomori, Simon Kjaer and Pierre Kalulu.
Romagnoli has skippered the San Siro ship for the past four years after the 27-year-old established a mainstay presence in red-and-black. AC Milan paid Roma €25m (£21.5m) before add-ons in 2015 for the centre-back, who will now leave the Serie A champions after 247 games across all competitions.
Newcastle battling Fulham interest to sign Romagnoli in free transfer
Newcastle are interested in offering Romagnoli his first chance to play in the Premier League ahead of leaving AC Milan. SS Lazio News report the Toon have tabled an important €4m-a-year (£66k-a/w) contract to the 12-cap Azzurri international, who has never played domestic football outside of Italy.
Romagnoli boasts 24 appearances in UEFA competitions, though, and started four of the Rossoneri’s six Champions League games last season. He also helped Pioli’s side to shut out Atletico Madrid for a 1-0 win at the Wanda Metropolitano, but could not stop the San Siro outfit finishing last in Group B.
The defender could now enjoy a new experience by moving to England, with Newcastle not the only club interested in Romagnoli. TuttoMercatoWEB report Fulham have also offered the Anzio native €4m-a-year, as Marco Silva is serious about taking him to Craven Cottage after clinching promotion.
Romagnoli is holding out on responding to the west London outfit’s offer as he is keen to learn if AC Milan will re-consider his departure. The 6ft star is also eager to understand if Lazio will explore his services further, as the Biancocelesti’s offer does not satisfy what Romagnoli believes he is worth.
AC Milan handed Romagnoli a €6m-a-year (£99k-a/w) deal in 2018, but negotiations over new terms focused on a pay cut. Gazzetta dello Sport cited a €3.5m-a-year (£58k-a/w) offer in November, while Calciomercato noted Lazio’s offer in April of €3m-a-year (£47k-a/w) and €500k (£430k) in bonuses.
A move to the Premier League, then, could see the Italian earn the best terms around this summer. Romagnoli accepting Newcastle’s offer and rejecting interest from Fulham will also see the centre-back become only the sixth Italian to play for the Magpies during the Premier League-era so far…
Barreca the last Italian to play for Newcastle amid interest in Romagnoli
Antonio Barreca is the most recent Italian to play for Newcastle for Romagnoli to now follow, should the AC Milan captain overlook Fulham and Lazio’s interest. The left-back moved to St James’ Park on loan from AS Monaco for the second half of the 2018/19 term, but he made just one single appearance.
Rafa Benitez afforded Barreca his Toon debut at the first time of asking as an 86th-minute substitute at Tottenham Hotspur. Yet the Spaniard would then omit the defender – who spent 2021/22 on loan in Serie B with Lecce – from 11 of the Tyneside outfit’s following 13 Premier League matchday squads.
Santon the last Italian to join Newcastle from Serie A amid Romagnoli interest
Davide Santon is the most recent Italian to join Newcastle from Serie A for Romagnoli to follow amid Howe’s summer interest. The Magpies bought the left-back from Inter Milan in 2011 for £5m, but a series of injuries restricted what he would go on to achieve before returning to the San Siro in 2015.
Inter hired their academy product – who had never played outside of Italy before moving to United – on loan in the winter market. His efforts back in blue-and-black then convinced the Nerazzurri to end his Newcastle career on 94 games with a permanent move, and he would enjoy another three years.
Zamblera last attacking Italian to join Newcastle with 2008 arrival from Atalanta
Newcastle last signed an attacking Italian player in Atalanta prospect Fabio Zamblera in 2008, but he failed to play a single senior game across the following three years. The Toon would send the centre-forward on loan to Sampdoria in 2009 and to Roma for 2009/10 before his eventual release in 2011.
Newcastle hired Manchester United prospect Rossi on loan during 2006
Newcastle shopped within the Premier League to hire an Italian in 2006 after agreeing a half-season loan deal with Manchester United for Giuseppe Rossi. The striker would play 13 times in black-and-white before returning to Old Trafford, where he featured 14 times, having scored once for the club.
Newcastle sealed first Italian signing in 1997 with Inter Milan’s Pistone
Newcastle secured the club’s first transfer for an Italian player in the Premier League-era with Inter Milan left-back Alessandro Pistone in 1997. Kenny Dalglish paid £4.5m for the Milan native to move to St James’, and he featured 63 times before joining Everton for £3m in 2000 for 116 appearances.
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