Newcastle United's search for offensive reinforcements has reportedly taken the club back to Italy, with the Magpies emerging as potential competition for several Serie A clubs chasing one of Hellas Verona's most interesting young players.
Tutto Mercato's Andrea Losapio reports that Newcastle has entered the picture for Verona winger Rafik Belghali, who is expected to leave the Italian club before the transfer window closes.
"Rafik Belghali remains on the way out of Hellas Verona," Losapio wrote. "The Algerian winger is one of the most interesting prospects on the Gialloblu's list of potential departures, and after months of exploring options and interest, his pursuit could soon expand abroad."
The Algeria international has already generated significant interest within Serie A. Inter has reportedly monitored Belghali for several months, Roma has shown "concrete interest" in the 24-year-old, and Juventus has also made exploratory moves, according to Losapio, who also mentioned Napoli and Fiorentina among the other clubs linked to Belghali.
Newcastle's emergence, however, could significantly alter the situation.
"Now, the English club could also emerge in the background, potentially entering the race and bringing international competition to the table for a player who has already attracted the attention of numerous European clubs," Losapio reported.
That Premier League interest could also have consequences for Belghali's eventual transfer fee.
Losapio reports that Verona valued the winger at approximately €12 million (£10.4 million) plus bonuses following enquiries from Inter, Napoli, Roma, Marseille and Venezia toward the end of July.
With Newcastle potentially entering an increasingly crowded race, that figure could now climb toward €15 million (£13 million) if competition develops into a bidding battle. In truth, it feels that Losapio or whoever leaked this supposed interest from the Hellas Verona side is just trying to bring Newcastle into the conversation to push up the price a bit, knowing the Magpies' financial power.
For now, Losapio hasn't reported an official offer or even an approach by Newcastle, leaving the Magpies' interest at an earlier stage, if there's one at all.
Would Belghali at around €15 million make sense for Newcastle, or should the club prioritize a more established addition? Let us know below.
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