Newcastle United set to complete second AC Milan raid ‘in the next 48 hours’

Newcastle United are reportedly closing in on another signing from AC Milan. A month after negotiating a £52million plus add-ons transfer for Sandro Tonali, the Magpies have returned for one of the Italian club’s young talents.

According to the Irish Examiner, Republic of Ireland youth international Cathal Heffernan is set to move to St James’ Park barring a hitch in the next 48 hours. The 19-year-old looked likely to join Verona before enjoying a successful trial at Newcastle last week.

Heffernan joined Milan from League of Ireland outfit Cork City in February 2022 on an initial loan deal before the move was made permanent the following summer. Heffernan has appeared 41 times at under-18s level.

United were also linked with another Irishman last month, Kevin Zefi of Inter Milan.

The 18-year-old moved to Inter from Shamrock Rovers in 2021, and while he’s yet to make a senior appearance, he did impress in the youth set-up last season - scoring 16 times in 23 appearances.

The youngster, born in Dublin, never featured for Shamrock’s first-team either but did become the League of Ireland’s youngest-ever goalscorer at age 15 years and 206 days back in September 2020 after netting for the club’s second string.

Zefi has been capped by Ireland at under-15s, under-17s and under-19s level where he’s linked up with Newcastle academy pair Alex Murphy and Reece Byrne. The Irish Examiner claims Newcastle remain in advanced negotiations to sign the winger.