Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly competing with Newcastle United to sign Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini this summer, with the 22-year-old Italian international attracting interest from across the Premier League.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, as relayed by The Hard Tackle, both Premier League clubs are looking to strengthen their defensive units in the upcoming window. Roberto De Zerbi is described as an admirer of Scalvini’s qualities, and it is believed that virtually every major English club holds a strong appreciation for the Atalanta defender.
A promising career interrupted by injury
Scalvini has been one of Serie A’s more exciting defensive prospects since breaking through at Atalanta, but a knee injury severely disrupted his 2024/25 season. He has managed just 1,607 minutes across 22 appearances in all competitions this term, though his stock remains high, with several high-profile clubs keen on signing him in the summer transfer window.
The obstacles are real
The urgency on Spurs’ side is not hard to explain. Cristian Romero’s future remains far from settled, with both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven reportedly mulling over their futures at the club after a bruising season in which Tottenham battled to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Tottenham cannot offer Champions League football, which puts them at a structural disadvantage against clubs who can. Newcastle United have shown long-standing interest in Scalvini, with the Magpies scouring the market for a centre-back this summer amid the advancing years of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, and with Sven Botman having struggled with fitness issues in recent seasons. The TEAMtalk report notes that competition for Scalvini’s signature may be stiff, with virtually every major English club said to hold an appreciation for the player.
De Zerbi has also been linked with Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke as an alternative defensive target. With other high-profile clubs also pursuing the 22-year-old Italian international, both Tottenham and Newcastle face a challenging path to securing his signature.
