According to Calciomercatoweb, AC Milan is eager to offload Belgian playmaker Charles De Ketelaere to Newcastle in the upcoming transfer window. The Belgian playmaker has struggled at the Serie A club since joining from Club Brugge only last summer, and the Italian giants are looking to recoup a fee in the region of €30 million.
Leeds fans will be familiar with the name, as De Ketelaere was one of the club’s top transfer targets last summer. After a month-long transfer saga, the young Belgian eventually moved to AC Milan for a fee of €32 million, which can increase to €35 million with add-ons, becoming one of the most expensive transfers in the club’s history.
The 21-year-old was seen as a promising prospect with enormous potential at the time, but his arrival has been accompanied by a great deal of pressure and expectation, given the hefty price tag that consumed most of the Rossoneri’s transfer budget for the current season.
De Ketelaere’s transition from the Belgian top flight to Serie A has been anything but smooth, with the Belgian international yet to score and only one assist in 26 appearances across all competitions.
The youngster struggled to adjust to Stefano Pioli’s tactics, and his performances have been inconsistent, to say the least. He hasn’t been able to show off all of his skills and has struggled to find his footing, displaying only a few flashes of his talent.
The fact that he was expected to deliver immediate results didn’t help matters either. Milan are now said to be trying to offload the 21-year-old and may offer him to Newcastle for a cut-price fee of around €30 million in the summer, with the Magpies known to be huge admirers of the talented attacking midfielder.
A summer move for De Ketelaere could make a lot of sense for Newcastle. The Toon owners are looking for young players who can grow and develop with the club, which has led to some incredible signings such as Bruno Guimaraes and Sven Botman. And De Ketelaere is certainly in that category.
Newcastle United has had an incredible season. They are currently fourth in the Premier League and will compete for major silverware in the Carabao Cup final later this month.
Their success has been built primarily on a strong defense, and the team could benefit from some creativity. De Ketelaere primarily plays behind the striker but can also play forward or out wide, making him a viable option to fill the void left by Chris Wood, who left for Nottingham Forest in January.
While he hasn’t had the best start in Italy, he was a prolific goalscorer and assist contributor for Club Brugge, and his talent is clear. He has excellent technical ability, vision, and passing range, and he can thrive with the right support from Newcastle manager Eddie Howe. It’s unclear whether the former Club Brugge prodigy will make the move to St. James’ Park this summer.
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