Bizarre Alessandro Bastoni claims from Italy - An absolute non-starter for Newcastle
Newcastle United are looking to bolster their defensive options for Eddie Howe this summer with several players being looked at.
The focus, at least in the short term, is to add more full-backs to the roster after a deluge of exits this month, but there may still be scope to add at least one more centre-back.
Newcastle has a new transfer strategy this summer, as we've already seen with the signing of young goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen. The aim is to find younger players with high ceilings who can grow with the club.
That theme could continue should we pursue a young centre-back able to become a long-term successor to Fabian Scahr or Dan Burn, but the latest link from Italy makes no sense, in reality.
Bizarre Bastoni links arrive from Italy
Italian outlet Calciomercato claim that Newcastle United are one of several Premier League clubs eyeing Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni - but we're having none of it.
Considering he's 27, would cost huge money, would almost certainly demand Champions League football and is being courted by a number of European giants, it's an absolute non-starter.
The Italy defender is thought to be a wanted man, with Barcelona making initial moves to sign the left-sided centre-back before backing away from the deal.
Calciomercato went on to suggest that strong interest from the Premier League remains, naming Newcastle, Manchester City and Liverpool as interested parties, although they do stop short of suggesting that any of the trio have done anything more than monitor his situation.
The report does concede that it's more likely that Bastoni will stay at Inter Milan and that he's made no noise about wanting to move.
Be on your guard when looking at transfer stories
Once again, this feels like Italian journalists using Newcastle and other Premier League teams to try to force an issue.
If the conclusion is that Bastoni is staying at Inter, then why even bring a host of his suitors into the equation? As ever, you have to question the agenda behind stories such as this, which should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Why have we covered it, you may ask? Well, it's to add some context to a story that might just have given some Newcastle fans false hope, as we can almost certainly say that Bastoni won't be signing at St James' Park this summer.
Rumour Rating: 1/10 - Too expensive, a little too old, not a priority position and no chance he'd join a club out of Europe unless they'd pay him crazy money. It's not happening.
