Newcastle eyeing Mandela Keita following Johan Manzambi snub - Report
Newcastle United are back on the hunt for a quality midfielder to replace Sandro Tonali after their move for Johan Manzambi looks to have failed.
The 20-year-old Swiss international looks set to join Aston Villa after lengthy negotiations with Newcastle. It seems the lure of Champions League football was enough to get Manzambi to change his mind about joining Newcastle.
Newcastle aren't thought to be panicking, however, as they never felt like this deal was nailed on, unlike how they felt before Victor Munoz opted to move to Liverpool.
According to reports, Newcastle have been working on alternatives with four potential targets on their radar already.
Newcastle have Mandela Keita in their sights
The iPaper claimed that Newcastle were looking at Danilo and Joao Gomes and had two other players in mind, one in Germany and another in Italy.
Italian outlet ParmaToday has claimed that Newcastle are keen on Parma's Mandela Keita, who could be the Italian-based player Mark Douglas was hinting at.
Keita could cost up to £21 million, with Parma very aware of growing interest in the 24-year-old defensive midfielder.
Newcastle eyeing a double swoop on Parma?
Newcastle are already in talks with Parma over Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, so there's a possibility of a double swoop at the Italian side.
Keita is described as a player who would thrive in the Premier League and is able to play as a number six or a number eight, which makes him a direct replacement for Sandro Tonali after his £100 million move to Tottenham.
It's still very much in the pinch of salt bracket at the moment, though. Reports from Italy aren't always the most reliable, but he does seem to fit the profile, and there were suggestions that Newcastle were looking at a player in Italy, so there is enough there to suggest that there could be something to this.
Rumour Rating: 7/10 - It's a high rank for a story coming out of Italy, but there's a lot pointing in the right direction.
