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Newcastle United have stepped up their push to bring Fikayo Tomori back to the Premier League, with the club putting forward a formal opening offer to AC Milan. The Magpies are keen to add more strength to their defensive unit after a season marked by major problems at the back, and they have identified the former Chelsea defender as a leading target.

Newcastle make initial move for Tomori

Newcastle have now made their first concrete approach for Tomori, but reports in Italy say the opening bid has not matched the Italian club’s expectations. The Magpies are understood to have submitted an initial offer of €15 million for the England international in an effort to land him early in the summer window. However, the San Siro club are not ready to approve a move at that figure, as they look to protect the market value of one of their most experienced defensive players.

The English club are determined to strengthen Eddie Howe’s squad after missing out on European football following a disappointing previous campaign. Newcastle had a poor Premier League season, ending up 12th while conceding 55 goals, and their defensive weaknesses were also exposed on the continental stage when they were knocked out of the Champions League round of 16 in a heavy 8-3 aggregate defeat to Barcelona.

Milan hold out for higher valuation

According to reports from MilanNews24, the Rossoneri hierarchy are currently considering the proposal from England, even though they believe it is well below their financial demands for the player. The Milan management have no intention of letting the centre-back leave at a discounted price and continue to value him at €20m, including bonuses. They see that amount as a fair reflection of his importance to the squad and his reputation in the European market.

Tomori first joined AC Milan on loan in January 2021 before the move was made permanent later that summer, after the club activated their £25m buy option from his previous loan. The defender’s current contract with the Italian giants runs until 2027.

Narrowing the gap in negotiations

The difference between the offer and the asking price does not seem impossible to bridge, and there is a growing view that a deal could be reached if Newcastle are prepared to raise their bid. The current gap is around €5m - a small difference for a defender of Tomori’s quality. During his spell at AC Milan, he helped the club win the 2021-22 Serie A title and the 2024-25 Supercoppa Italiana, while also playing a key part in taking the Rossoneri to the 2022-23 Champions League semi-finals for the first time since their 2006-07 triumph.

Last season, Tomori made 37 appearances in all competitions for AC Milan, contributing three assists as the club finished fifth in Serie A to secure a place in next season’s Europa League. Overall, the defender has played 214 times for the Rossoneri, scoring seven goals and providing six assists during his time in Italy.

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Proven experience in English football

Tomori arrives with plenty of English football experience, having spent five years on Chelsea’s books between 2016 and 2021 - a period that included loan spells at Brighton, Hull City, and Derby County. While at Stamford Bridge, the defender made 27 appearances and scored two goals, and he also helped the Blues reach the 2019-20 FA Cup final.