Torino midfielder Afriyie Acquah has said he is almost certainly going to be moving to England this summer amid links of a move to Newcastle.
The Magpies were reported to be willing to make an £8million move for the 25-year-old defensive midfielder by Ghana Soccernet, although they were said to face competition from Champions League runners up Juventus for his signature.
However it now seems that Acquah, who scored two goals for Torino last season, will be leaving Italy altogether this summer, with the player confirming a move to England is nearly completed.
He told footballmadeinghana.com: “It is very likely I will be moving to England. It is 90 per cent complete.”
“It has been a dream of mine to play in England and I am very close to achieving this.”
The 18-time-capped Ghanaian international joined current side on a free transfer from German club Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015, and has impressed with his work rate and tenaciousness as a ball winning midfielder, with Corriere Del Mezzogiorno comparing him to former Chelsea star Michael Essien.
However, there may be concerns over his disciplinary record, with the former Palermo man having picked up three red cards for second bookable offences last season.
Newcastle currently have Jack Colback and Isaac Hayden as their first team defensive midfielders, while Jonjo Shelvey and Mohamed Diame join the English duo as options for Rafael Benitez in the centre of the park.