Newcastle United continue keep their eyes on top-level talent. Eddie Howe wants to strengthen his midfield options and add depth to his squad. The club’s growing presence in Europe fuels talk about possible January signings, and one of the names circulating is Manuel Locatelli.
The Italian midfielder, who captains Juventus, plays a crucial role for the Turin side. Journalist Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider that Newcastle United face slim chances of signing him because Juventus value him highly. The Italian club started their season strongly in both Serie A and the Champions League, and hence, they see no reason to weaken their team halfway through the campaign.
Locatelli leads both Juventus and the Italian national team. So, the 27-year-old likely prefers stability before next summer’s international tournaments. Juventus count him as a key part of their setup, and O’Rourke said the club won’t accept any offers during the January window.
“It’s a difficult deal to do. He’s club captain at Juventus. Juventus have had a good start to the season, so they won’t want to lose one of their key players midway through the season. They are still in the Champions League, so they won’t want to weaken their squad, especially if they reach the latter stages.
“Locatelli is a top player and a regular for Italy. Would he want to leave midway through the season with a World Cup coming up? I doubt that. Juventus won’t want to lose such a key player. It’s no surprise that clubs like Newcastle, Chelsea, and Bayer Leverkusen are looking at him because he’s a very solid defensive midfielder. Newcastle have a strong midfield, but they lack cover in that area, which explains their interest. Still, I don’t think Juventus will encourage any offers in January and will want to keep their captain.”
Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Bayer Leverkusen all show interest, but Juventus stand firm in their intentions. They aim to protect their progress, keep their squad balanced, and hold on to their captain. Newcastle’s interest makes sense. Even with a strong midfield trio of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton, the team still lacks a defensive midfielder with Locatelli’s calmness and passing range. Yet turning that interest into a real move may prove difficult because Juventus intend to keep their captain this season.
Why Locatelli Would Be an Ideal Fit for Eddie Howe’s System at Newcastle United?
If Newcastle manage to sign him, Locatelli will slot in perfectly into Howe’s setup. He plays both as a deep-lying playmaker and as a box-to-box midfielder. This versatility gives the manager more options. His presence will let Bruno Guimarães move further forward and improve Newcastle’s attacking balance.
Locatelli handles pressure calmly and defends with discipline. His playing style matches the high-energy style Howe demands from his players. The Italian has shown leadership skills by captaining Juventus, which brings maturity to a team still learning to handle European competition.
His arrival will ease the physical and mental strain of a busy fixture schedule and will keep the midfield fresh for both domestic and European matches. Newcastle’s success in signing Sandro Tonali from Serie A already shows that they know how to blend Italian players into their system. Still, Juventus will refuse to part with their captain, especially while their season goes well. For now, Newcastle can just admire from afar, but their interest shows how determined they are to compete with Europe’s best.
