AC Milan forward Charles De Ketelaere could be on his way to Newcastle United in the summer, reports Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb.
De Ketelaere began his career in his native Belgium with Club Brugge. During his early years, he shone for the Pro League outfit, scoring 26 times in three seasons.
This prompted Serie A champions AC Milan to buy him in the summer transfer window of 2022, signing a five-year contract for an estimated fee of €35 million.
However, his time in Italy has not gone as planned. In 26 outings for the Rossoneri, he is yet to score and has registered just one assist in all competitions.
Consequently, Milan are reportedly looking to cut their losses on the 21-year-old. They may reach out to Newcastle over a possible €30m deal in the summer.
Despite his struggles this season, De Ketelaere ought to have enough credit in the bank to earn some attention from around Europe. He has been capped 11 times for the Belgium national team and featured at the World Cup in Qatar.
It’s been a promising campaign for Newcastle. They sit in fourth place in the Premier League and are set to participate in the Carabao Cup final later this month.
This has mainly been down to their defence, which has been rock-solid. From Europe’s top five leagues, only La Liga leaders Barcelona have conceded fewer than the Magpies.
However, there is room for improvement further forward. Eddie Howe’s side have scored 35 Premier League goals, a tally bettered by eight teams.
Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have suffered injuries this season, leaving Newcastle light up front. And, with the former now on the wrong side of 30, a younger option may be required.
Next up for Newcastle is a home clash with Liverpool. The following weekend, they travel to Wembley Stadium to face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.
