Newcastle United plot ‘game-changing’ transfer for £40m star who played alongside Sandro Tonali

Newcastle United are weighing up a big-money move for Federico Chiesa this summer, according to reports.

Juventus are understood to be open to offloading the winger at the end of the season. Chiesa became a household name at Euro 2020, making the Team of the Tournament as Italy were crowned champions - beating England in the final.

A string of injuries have hampered his progress since then but he remains a top winger in Serie A. The 26-year-old appears to have put those setbacks behind him, starting seven of Juve’s last eight league fixtures.

Financial difficulties could force the Turin giants to sell this summer. Breaching FFP forced UEFA to ban Juventus from competing in European competition and, in February, they announced annual losses of £82million.

Corriere dello Sport now claim Newcastle are plotting a move for Chiesa as part of their rebuild. Liverpool and Chelsea are also named as possible Premier League destinations for the £40million man.

Signing Chiesa could prove a game-changer for Eddie Howe, who has struggled at right flank all season. Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy are Newcastle’s current first-team options but neither are considered to be elite.

Someone like the Juve star supplying the bullets for Alexander Isak might revamp the Toon attack. However, as a right-footed player, this would signal a tactical shift from Howe.

He has preferred inverted widemen through his time on Tyneside, with the likes of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Almiron and Murphy being alongside to drift inside onto their stronger foot. Chiesa is capable of playing on either wing as well as behind the striker.