The plot of Newcastle United next summer signing ‘confirmed’

Following a successful trial at the club, Newcastle are ready to acquire Irish defender Cathal Heffernan from AC Milan.

Newcastle's Under-21s played Carlisle United and Barrow in friendlies. Despite losing both matches 2-0 and 4-1, the club has chosen to sign the kid.

And the trade has now been confirmed by Italian transfer specialist Gianluca Di Marzio, who claims Heffernan is on his way from Milan to Newcastle.

Heffernan told Sky Sports earlier this year: "If Brexit hadn't happened, I could probably be in England right now."

"I think it's a huge disadvantage for England; they'll have to figure out how to counteract it in the future, or they'll pay the price." As things stand, European teams will simply begin to take control by recruiting the finest players from all over Europe.

"I could be in England right now; I'm not saying I would be, but I'd be a long way there."

"I'd been on a couple of trials in Italy as well, and thankfully I landed this one in Milan, which changed my life, so I'm kind of happy it happened in a way, but it would have been nice to go to England as well."

The teenager plays for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s alongside Newcastle Under-21s pair Alex Murphy and Reece Byrne.

Another of Heffernan's Ireland junior teammates is said to be close to joining The Magpies. Kevin Zefi, an Inter Milan winger, has been on Newcastle's radar after scoring 16 goals in 23 appearances for the club's minor team last season.

The 18-year-old is in 'advanced negotiations' to join Newcastle this summer and has just a year left on his contract after joined Inter from Shamrock Rovers in 2021.

According to reports, Junior Messias will have his physical with Genoa on Friday morning after an agreement on his departure was reached.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the parties are currently working out the contractual specifics, but the fundamentals of the arrangement have been agreed upon. Messias will extend his contract with Milan before joining the Rossoblu on loan with an option to buy.

The former Crotone star has decided to stay in Italy and has selected Genoa in part due to the pressure of Alberto Gilardino.

In Milan, a meeting was held between Genoa general manager Ricciardella, the player, and his agent, during which he was persuaded to make the switch.

Junior Messias appeared in 36 games last season, scoring six goals and providing two assists. Now he has the opportunity for a fresh challenge in Serie A, where he will play a starting role and assist Genoa re-establish themselves in the top division.

Newcastle signs a Luton teenager and an AC Milan player, with four more transfers in the works.

After seven years with the Hatters, the 14-year-old has become our FOURTH new acquisition for the 2023/24 season, joining Sam Alabi (Oldham), Kacey Wooster (Southend), and Michael Mills (Port Vale) on Tyneside.

Pinnington will not be the last to be photographed holding up the black and white jersey at St James' Park. A deal to recruit Wolves full-back Leo Shahar is nearing completion, while moves for fellow England U16 internationals Trevan Sanusi (Birmingham) and Divine Mukasa (West Ham) are also being considered.

At U21 level, a deal for 18-year-old AC Milan centre-back Cathal Heffernan is apparently 'done,' with Inter Milan winger Kevin Zefi (18) anticipated to follow.

It's encouraging to see the club invest in the academy, which was formerly overlooked by Newcastle United and is now overseen by Dan Ashworth.

Following the overhaul of the academy's scouting department earlier this year, which saw 13 new members of staff join, we are now seeing a rush of new faces at U16, U18, and U21 level, with Ashworth keen to lure some of the greatest young talent to Tyneside.