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Report: Newcastle to meet struggling Euro side to discuss deal for £6.3m-rated international

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Image for Report: Newcastle to meet struggling Euro side to discuss deal for £6.3m-rated international

Newcastle United are set to meet Serie A side Sampdoria to discuss a summer deal for Gambia international Omar Colley, according to TuttoMercatoWEB.

Colley moved to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in 2018 from Belgian outfit KRC Genk, and has been a regular of I Blucerchiati’s side ever since under former managers Marco Giampaolo, Eusebio Di Francesco and now Claudio Ranieri.

The 27-year-old centre-half started all 21 of his Serie A appearances last season and opened 15 of a possible 17 this term while helping to five clean sheets prior to Monday’s meeting with AC Milan.

Sampdoria have often struggled to perform under Ranieri, with the Genoa-based outfit bordering on the edge of the relegation zone. I Blucerchiati have no intentions to part company with Colley in January, though, and have the £6.3million-rated defender under contract until the summer of 2022.

But Newcastle have been attracted to Colley’s talents having scouted the 18-cap Gambian on several occasions, and will fly to Italy in the coming days to discuss the potential of a summer transfer.

It remains to be seen if Sampdoria warm to our advances over a summer deal, or whether Colley would be open to leaving Italy for Tyneside ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

Would you back a summer move for Colley?

Yes

Yes

No

Even should Sampdoria consider a summer switch, it could be unlikely that Colley is attracted to the idea, given we remain in a relegation battle with just five points separating Steve Bruce’s Toon from 18th-placed AFC Bournemouth.

The 27-year-old would be forgiven for wanting to know what division he may be playing in next season, with the appeals of the Premier League far greater than those of the Championship.

A deal could also be somewhat unappealing for the Toon given Colley’s performances in a backline that has shipped 27 goals in 17 games, before facing Milan at the San Siro on Monday afternoon – where the Gambian is scheduled to start.

Colley has averaged the fifth-most tackles of Sampdoria’s six defenders with 1.3 successful attempts from 1.7 tackles per 90 minutes in the Serie A under Ranieri, per WhoScored data, along with 1.3 interceptions (third-most), 0.5 shots blocks (fourth-most) and 1.0 passes blocked (fifth-most).

Colley does lead Sampdoria’s central defensive ranks for clearances with 5.2, though, and is second for aerial duels won with 2.7.

In other Newcastle United news, a £2.7m-rated Magpies man has been linked with a January move away.

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