Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United have made concrete advances to sign Atalanta’s highly rated youngster Sergej Levak this summer, but their opening move has already been turned down by the Italian club.
The 20-year-old only joined Atalanta in 2025, arriving after a spell within the AS Roma system. Despite his relatively recent arrival, he has already begun to attract attention across Europe due to his rapid development.
Levak is yet to make a senior appearance for Atalanta, but he has been a standout figure for the club’s U23 side in Serie C this season. Operating from midfield, he scored seven goals in 35 appearances, a return that has significantly boosted his reputation.
Interest in the Croatian talent is not new. In December, Sport Witness reported that Manchester United had scouts monitoring him live, underlining the growing interest in his potential.
His performances did not go unnoticed by Newcastle United, who have now stepped up their pursuit. According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Magpies recently tabled an “important offer” for the midfielder.
Reports suggest Newcastle submitted a bid in the region of €10m, although it remains unclear whether add-ons were included. However, Atalanta have firmly rejected the proposal, with no intention of sanctioning a departure at this stage.
The Italian club view Levak as part of their long-term project, even if his immediate pathway to the first team is not yet clearly defined. He is under contract until 2030, and his development is being carefully managed.
Levak began his career at Croatian side NK Osijek before moving to AS Roma in 2023. Two years later, he joined Atalanta, where his progress has continued to accelerate. His style of play has even drawn comparisons to experienced midfielders such as Nemanja Matić and Sergej Milinković-Savić.
Despite Newcastle’s strong interest, the move appears premature for Atalanta, who are determined to protect one of their most promising young talents.
From Newcastle’s perspective, the need for reinforcements in midfield is not urgent. Eddie Howe’s squad already includes Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton, Jacob Ramsey, Joe Willock, and Lewis Miley, giving the club strong depth in that area.
With no European football next season, the Magpies may choose to focus their resources elsewhere unless circumstances change or a key departure opens space in the squad.
For now, Atalanta remain firm, and Levak’s future looks set to stay in Italy — at least for the foreseeable future.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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