In a recent report, Turkish news outlet Sabah stated that Newcastle United are prepared to pay £30m for Galatasaray playmaker Nicolo Zaniolo this summer. It is understood that the Magpies are keen on snapping the Italian attacker up in this ongoing transfer window.
Zaniolo’s Decent Form At Galatasaray Last Season
The 24-year-old proved himself to be a reliable performer for the Turkish outfit last season when he put in a run of fruitful performances for them in the opponent’s half. Zaniolo netted seven goals and earned four assists in 28 appearances for Galatasaray in the previous campaign across various competitions.
The Italian talent was a decent contributor in the final third based on his average of 2.2 shots and 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Turkish Super Lig. However, he needs to distribute the ball a bit better in the opposition half as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 73.7% in the Turkish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Zaniolo’s current contract at Galatasaray will run out in the summer of 2027. Therefore, it will be difficult for Newcastle to sign him for a reduced fee in this off-season.
Is Zaniolo The Right Fit For Newcastle United Boss Eddie Howe?
Zaniolo is a decent dribbler with the ball and can strike the ball with power from long range. He can chip in by scoring and creating a few important goals for his team. However, the Italian sensation needs to find a way to improve his offensive productivity if he wants to be more successful in the future.
Zaniolo is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also function as a secondary striker or as a right-winger if told to do so.
We can expect Zaniolo to inject more quality and depth into Newcastle boss Eddie Howe‘s attack. He has what it takes to fight for a regular starting spot at St. James’ Park next season.
At 24, Zaniolo will enter his prime soon which makes him a good fit for the Tyneside club in the long run. However, there are some concerns over whether he would be able to adapt to the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football if Newcastle manage to get him on board before the start of the new campaign.