Newcastle United close to signing Champions League runner up Nicolo Barella

Newcastle United could be on the verge of one of the signings of the summer, with reports they're close to getting Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella.

There's little doubt about the leaps and bounds that Newcastle have come on under Eddie Howe in just over 18 months that he's been at the club.

They were embroiled in a relegation battle when he first took over and next season they will be playing in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

The task for Howe is to stave off competition from the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea who will be hoping to make it back into the top four.

In order to help the manager there will no doubt be some incomings at St James' Park this summer, with Neymar and PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe perhaps optimistically linked.

However the truth has seemed a bit more modest than that with claims that the manager will only have around £80 million to spend before the start of the next campaign.

And it seems that the Magpies are set to spend a large chunk of that money on one player, in the form of Italy midfielder Barella.

According to the Telegraph, the club are closing in a £50 million move for the Inter star as they seek an upgrade in a defensive midfield position.

Barella is one of the best midfielders around right now. Image: Alamy

The 26-year-old helped take Inter to the Champions League final last weekend, where they were ultimately defeated by Manchester City.

But the past few years have seen him be integral to a number of successes for both club and country, winning Serie A with the San Siro side and also winning the Euros in 2021 with Italy.

Signing him would allow Bruno Guimaraes to have more attacking freedom, though the former Cagliari man is also well known for chipping in with goals.

His all round play and hard work would see him fit into Howe's side easily and he would also add experience in Europe which could be lacking.

The club are still in the hunt to add James Maddison to the squad this summer, after the England international was relegated with Leicester City.

They face opposition from Tottenham Hotspur to sign the former Norwich City star but signing both him and Barella would be massive for them.