Newcastle and Fulham interested in Italian defender Gian Marco Ferrari but face competition from Sevilla and Monaco
The Magpies may swoop for Sassuolo centre-back if they can sell Chancel Mbemba but Premier League newbies Fulham also keen
Sponsored by
NEWCASTLE UNITED are reportedly interested in signing Gian Marco Ferrari but will have to beat newly-promoted Fulham to the defender's signature.
The Italian impressed this season on loan at Sampdoria from Sassuolo and is also wanted by Sevilla and Monaco, .
Ferrari, 26, made 30 appearances on his loan spell in Serie A as Sampdoria beat AC Milan and Juventus on their way to a 10th-placed finish.
And he could prove a useful addition to Rafael Benitez's squad as the club look to sell Chancel Mbemba this summer.
The Congolese 23-year-old played just nine Premier League games this season, the last of which came in Toon's 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City in December.
But the 6'2" Ferrari would bring further competition to centre-backs Ciaran Clark, Florian Lejeune and club captain and player of the season Jamaal Lascelles.
most read in football
Newcastle made their first signing of the summer this week when they confirmed the £4million signing of Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who spent the second half of the season on loan at St James' Park.
Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham may also be interested in signing Ferrari after they were promoted back into the Premier League last week.
Tim Ream was the first-choice centre-back throughout the season and partnered by Tomas Kalas or Denis Odoi.
But Fulham are likely to want to recruit a new partner for Ream in the top flight and Ferrari could fit the bill.
Sampdoria have the option to buy him for £11.2million at the end of his loan deal this summer but it is believed they want to reduce the transfer fee.
And Ferrari's agent, Giovanni Bia, is thought to be looking to secure a move for the defender, with big European names also interested.
He said to : "[Sevilla and Monaco] contacted me, they are among the clubs involved, we must also check the arrangement of the various coaches and the decisions about the possible placement of certain players, for example the future of Glik and Raggi in Monaco.
EXCLUSIVE: Fred to complete Manchester United move from Shakhtar Donetsk next week
"I have also asked for information from three to four medium-to-high-end English teams, with foreign clubs being the ones ahead."
There are suggestions that Monaco are keen and would be able to offer Ferrari Champions League football.
Meanwhile Sevilla's 7th-placed finish in La Liga this season mean they are in the second qualifying round for the Europa League alongside Burnley.