Frattesi’s Future in Question Amid Newcastle Interest

omidbasir- According to Sport Witness, Newcastle United expressed interest in signing 26-year-old Davide Frattesi this summer, but he ultimately remained with Inter Milan. However, after accumulating less than 200 minutes of play in Serie A this season, a departure from the Nerazzurri appears imminent. Tuttomercatoweb reports that Frattesi’s route to the first team is hindered by competition from players such as Petar Sucic and Piotr Zielinski, making a January exit ‘very likely.’ Although Inter rejected Newcastle’s summer approach, a renewed bid could be considered in 2026.

In August, Newcastle’s manager, Eddie Howe, acknowledged the need for an additional midfielder due to injuries affecting Joe Willock and Lewis Miley. He stated, “We want six [midfielders], and now we are down to four. That is an issue for us, and it is a position we are looking at.”

Despite an eventful transfer window that included securing Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa amidst the Alexander Isak saga, it is unclear if this addition will adequately address Howe’s midfield concerns with a significant portion of the season still remaining.

Howe also tempered expectations regarding a potential re-signing of Elliot Anderson, who was sold to Nottingham Forest last year as part of Newcastle’s efforts to manage profit and sustainability regulations. He remarked, “Sentiment never comes into it; it is always about finance. We have not had any discussions about the January window. We are too focused on the number of games we have. That will take precedence for now. Certainly, paying fees like that (£100 million) is unlikely for us. I am discussing this without any knowledge about January. Big fees are not usually paid in that window. There is always a long-term management aspect concerning PSR and our financial health. We cannot allow one transfer to disrupt our balance.”

While Frattesi has not been a regular starter at Inter, with his last start occurring on October 4, he continues to represent his national team. Recently, he participated in Italy’s 4-1 defeat to Norway in the World Cup qualifiers, a match where Italy maintained a lead for a significant period. Following the game, Frattesi commented, “It was two games in one. In the first half, we were dominant; in the second half, we showed some fragility. After the first goal, we lost our momentum. The group stage is over, and we must concentrate solely on the March playoffs.

“It might have stemmed from being on the back foot throughout the group stage. Knowing that our chances to qualify were slim affected our mental state. Explaining a 4-1 result is challenging, but I would not describe it as humiliation. They did not completely outplay us; at least, that was my impression on the pitch. They proved they deserved to win the group, so calling it humiliation seems exaggerated.”

It remains uncertain whether Inter will consider offers for Frattesi, whose contract extends until 2028, in the upcoming January transfer window and whether Newcastle will maintain their interest. The winter window is traditionally difficult for transactions, as clubs tend to demand inflated prices for their players. Prior to the transfer window, Inter will face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, while Newcastle is set to take on Marseille in France.