In a recent report, Gazzetta dello Sport revealed that Newcastle United have intensified their efforts to recruit Juventus defender Federico Gatti. It has been stated that the Magpies are eyeing a move to secure the services of the Italian centre-back this summer.
Gatti’s Impressive Run Of Form In Italian Football
Gatti enjoyed a solid campaign at the Turin club after he put in a string of impressive displays at the centre of their defence. The 26-year-old scored four goals in 36 matches for Juventus last season in all competitions.
The Rivoli-born talent has been a dominant presence when defending inside his half as he averaged 1.0 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per game in Serie A. He was even accurate when distributing the ball from the back after completing 86.1% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Italian club will run out in the summer of 2028 which could make it tough for the Magpies to snap him up on the cheap later this year.
Is Gatti A Decent Choice For Newcastle United Boss Eddie Howe?
Gatti loves a tackle and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the offensive. Standing at 1.90m, Gatti can use his strong frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. He even excels at playing his way out from the back.
However, Gatti is under a long-term contract which could make it difficult for Newcastle to sign him this off-season. Still, there is no denying that the Italian sensation would bring more bite and steel to Eddie Howe’s defence.
At 26, Gatti is about to enter his prime, so the Magpies would be wise to bring him on board in this summer transfer window. The Juventus talent is good enough to help Newcastle compete across all fronts in the coming years.
With all things considered, Gatti would be a great choice for the Tyneside club to pursue before the end of this summer transfer window. However, the jury is still out on whether the three-time Italy international would be able to cope with the high intensity of Premier League football.
