Newcastle United are proving to be an unappealing potential club for long-term target Hellas Verona defender Koray Gunter, according to Estadio Deportivo.
Toon scouts have frequently been sent to Italy this season to observe the Hoxter, Germany-born centre-half in Serie A action following his loan move from Genoa, which includes a €5million (£4.3m) option for Verona to buy.
Gunter had struggled to establish himself at Genoa following a free transfer from Galatasaray in 2018, with the 25-year-old only earning eight starting calls over 15 outings in all competitions.
But he has found a home for himself at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi with head coach Ivan Juric awarding the former youth international for Germany and Turkey 23 appearances from a possible 27, of which 21 have come in the opening XI.
His performances under Juric have sparked clubs around Europe to sit up and take note, with his agent informing Estadio Deportivo that Newcastle, as well as Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and La Liga outfit Sevilla, are on the scene.
Sevilla have already approached Gunter’s representatives to discuss a deal for the centre-back to move to Spain at the climax of the campaign, while the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and playing under former Spain manager Julen Lopetegui is said to be the ‘most convincing’ destination.
Would you sign Koray Gunter in the summer?
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Estadio Deportivo’s report is not the first time that Newcastle have been put forward as a potential destination for Gunter, as reports in Italy earlier in the season suggested club chiefs had been ‘satisfied’ with the defender’s early efforts for Hellas Verona.
It was added that we could look to offer the Serie A side €10m (£8.7m) to sign Gunter during the January window, though Verona would look to reject the mid-season approach without earning a ‘rich capital gain’ on their €5m option clause.
Gunter has continued to shine since our scouts reported back glowing assessments of the Borussia Dortmund product, who has helped Hellas to keep eight clean sheets in the Italian top-flight this term.
The 25-year-old has averaged the third-most successful tackles per 90 minutes in the Serie A this season among Hellas’ centre-halves to have featured more than three times with 1.6 successful efforts from 1.9 attempts, per WhoScored data, plus the most clearances (4.9), shots blocked (1.5), accurate long balls (3.3), the second-most interceptions (1.6), and the fourth-most aerial duels won (2.9 of 4.9).
In other Newcastle United news, clubs around the world have been credited with interest in a 32-cap Toon ace.