After Elanga: Newcastle keen to finalise deal for £40m “top talent”, he’s Tonali 2.0 – opinion
Newcastle United Close in on Anthony Elanga Deal as Defensive Reinforcements Take Priority
Newcastle United appear to be edging closer to finalizing a significant deal for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. The Magpies initially saw a bid turned down by Forest, but manager Eddie Howe swiftly returned with an improved offer of £55 million—an amount that now looks set to be accepted, bringing the Swedish international to St. James’ Park.
Elanga has been on Newcastle’s radar for some time, with Howe identifying the 23-year-old as a key target to inject pace and dynamism into his frontline. Should the transfer be completed as expected, it would represent a major statement of intent from the club as they look to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts—including in the UEFA Champions League next season.
The arrival of Elanga could serve as the springboard for further activity in the market. Howe knows that to maintain Newcastle’s upward trajectory and cope with the demands of European and domestic football, he must bolster several areas of the squad—particularly in defence.
Defensive Reinforcements Take Centre Stage
With Champions League football looming, Newcastle’s focus has now shifted to shoring up their defensive options. The backline was a concern during parts of the 2024/25 campaign, and strengthening this area is now a key priority. The Magpies have reportedly shown strong interest in multiple targets from across Europe.
Among the names linked with a move to Tyneside are AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw and Sporting CP’s highly-rated centre-back Ousmane Diomande. However, it appears Newcastle’s top defensive target is Atalanta’s rising star Giorgio Scalvini. According to a report from the Northern Echo, journalist Scott Wilson has confirmed that the club will spend the weekend locked in negotiations with the Serie A outfit in a bid to secure the 20-year-old’s services.
Scalvini, who is reportedly valued at around £40 million, has attracted attention from several top European clubs, prompting Newcastle to act quickly in an attempt to fend off competition. Howe is keen to wrap up a deal as soon as possible, with the belief that Scalvini could play a transformative role in the heart of the defence.
Could Scalvini Be Newcastle’s Next Tonali?
This wouldn’t be Howe’s first venture into the Italian market. In 2023, Newcastle completed the high-profile signing of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan. Despite an unfortunate eight-month ban due to off-field issues, Tonali has been a major success on the pitch when available.
In the Premier League last season, Tonali played a crucial role in midfield, contributing six goal involvements, completing 59% of his dribbles, winning over half of his ground duels, and averaging 1.4 tackles per game. His performances were instrumental in helping the Magpies finish in the top five, thereby securing a coveted Champions League spot.
Should Scalvini make the move to Newcastle, there’s hope that he could replicate—or even surpass—Tonali’s impact. Though injury ruled him out for much of the 2023/24 season, Scalvini had previously been regarded as one of Serie A’s most promising defenders. Back in 2022, respected journalist Fabrizio Romano dubbed him a “top talent,” and the statistics back up that claim.
During his breakthrough campaign, Scalvini ranked among the top 5% of centre-backs in Italy for successful take-ons per 90 minutes, and he was also in the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area. Defensively, he excelled with top 4% numbers for interceptions and top 16% for aerial duels won.
These metrics highlight his versatility and effectiveness at both ends of the pitch. Now fully fit, Scalvini is viewed by Howe as the ideal candidate to reinforce his backline. If the deal goes through and Scalvini can replicate his pre-injury form, Newcastle could once again find themselves with a Serie A gem at the heart of their project.
In what promises to be a crucial summer for the club, securing both Elanga and Scalvini would be a major coup—and a clear signal of Newcastle United’s ambition heading into the 2025/26 season.