Agent suggests he’ll look to block £17m Newcastle or Nottingham Forest transfer

The agent of Monza goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio has indicated that he may look to prevent a potential £17 million move to the Premier League amid reported interest from Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

Guglielmo Vicario may have made the transition from Serie A to English football look rather straightforward – one of this season’s breakout

talents at Tottenham Hotspur – but Carlo Alberto Belloni is in no rush to discover whether his highly-rated client can do the same.

Michele di Gregorio, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, has admirers at Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s previously rock-solid side have conceded a staggering 27 goals in their last 11 games during Nick Pope’s injury-enforced absence.

Di Gregorio has also caught the eye of Nottingham Forest in recent months.

And while Nuno Espirito Santo’s side did bring in Matz Sels – himself a one-time Newcastle glovesman – it would not be a massive surprise if Forest were to turn to the market again.

Particularly with neither Matt Turner nor Odysseas Vlachodimos impressing at the City Ground.

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Newcastle and Nottingham Forest like Serie A ace

The Milan-born Di Gregorio could prove to be a bargain at around £17 million.

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But the 26-year-old’s representative is making no secret about his desire to see Di Gregorio continue his development on home soil, even if there are few teams in Serie A who currently need him or can afford him.

“There have been chats with some clubs about my client, Di Gregorio,” Carlo Alberto Belloni tells Calciomercato.

“At Juventus, there is (Wojciech) Szczesny who has another year on his contract. It is difficult for them to consider other options.

“I would prefer to keep the boy’s future in Italy and not abroad, because going to England, for example, would have different (challenges), even if the Premier League always attracts anyone.

“Di Gregorio has a particular affection for Inter for the fact that he grew up there.

But he is not an Inter fan. The Nerazzurri don’t have the economic strength to make a significant offer.”

Nottingham Forest reportedly failed with a bid in the region of £8 million last summer.

In Belloni’s view, one of the game’s most rapidly-improving shot-stoppers is now establishing himself among ‘the best in Europe’.

Newcastle considering a new number one goalkeeper

“Di Gregorio is certainly ready to make the leap to a big team,” the agent adds.

“I haven’t spoken to either Roma or Napoli. The Giallorossi don’t yet have an official sporting director, while the Neapolitans I think have other priorities at the moment.

“The price? Probably he could be sold for around 20 million euros. The problem is that few teams in Italy have that spending power.”

HITC Football understands that, even after Pope regains full fitness, Newcastle may still look to bring in a new number one.

Potentially one more comfortable with the ball at his feet. There is interest in Aaron Ramsdale, who will look to leave Arsenal if he remains stuck behind David Raya.

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