Newcastle United remain very much in the race for Fiorentina attacking midfielder Nico Gonzalez and have already made enquiries with his agent, according to Italian outlet Quotidiano Sportivo.
The Argentina international is expected to leave the Serie A club this summer, with his representatives in talks with I Viola to thrash out exit terms, and the Magpies are monitoring the situation.
However, Newcastle will face stiff competition from Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Atalanta for the services of Gonzalez.
Fiorentina want at least €30 million from suitors for the Copa America winner, and it is a fee the St James’ Park club would be willing to pay if the 26-year-old is ready to join them.
He bagged 16 goals and five assists in 44 appearances last term, with 12 goals coming in 29 Serie A games, and Newcastle could do with such a solid attacker in the final third.
The South American has proven himself over the years, grabbing 14 goals and five assists in 2022-23 and eight goals and nine assists in 2021-22, but whether a move to the Premier League or a club not offering European football will appeal to him remains to be seen.
Gonzalez was linked with a move to Brentford last summer, but a move did not materialise, with the Stadio Artemio Franchi club rejecting a €40m bid from the Bees.
Fiorentina missed out on a place in Europe by just a point at the end of last term, and the Newcastle target would want to play in the Champions League having not done so before.
Missing out entirely on continental football for this season has not done the Magpies much favours, which could now see them miss out on the Argentine.
They made the loan move of Lewis Hall permanent and have added Miodrag Pivas and Lloyd Kelly as their other two outfield signings, but manager Eddie Howe would hope for more additions in a bid to pursue something better than a top-seven finish next term.
