Newcastle United see €10m bid for Sergej Levak rejected by Atalanta

Newcastle United have reportedly made a significant move for highly-rated Atalanta midfielder Sergej Levak, only for the Italian club to reject their offer.

The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the standout performers in Serie C this season and his development has attracted growing attention from clubs across Europe.

According to reports in Italy, Newcastle recently submitted what has been described as an "important offer" in an attempt to bring the Croatian youngster to St James' Park.

Levak joined Atalanta on a free transfer in 2025 after leaving AS Roma and has quickly established himself as one of the key figures in the club's Under-23 side.

Despite not yet making his senior debut, the midfielder impressed throughout the 2025/26 campaign, scoring seven goals in 35 appearances in Serie C.

Those performances convinced Newcastle to make their move.

Reports claim Eddie Howe's side offered €10m for the midfielder, highlighting just how highly the Premier League club rate his potential.

However, Atalanta immediately rejected the proposal.

The Italian side reportedly have no intention of selling Levak and view him as an important part of their future plans.

Atalanta have built a reputation as one of Europe's leading clubs when it comes to developing young talent, and Levak appears to be the latest player they believe can make the step up.

The Croatian began his career with NK Osijek before joining Roma in 2023. After two years in the Italian capital, he moved to Bergamo and has continued his development at an impressive rate.

Reports in Italy suggest comparisons have already been drawn between Levak and former Premier League midfielder Nemanja Matić, while others have highlighted similarities with fellow Serbian star Sergej Milinković-Savić.

Those comparisons may be premature, but they underline the excitement surrounding his potential.

It is unsurprising that the club are unwilling to cash in before the midfielder has even been given an opportunity at first-team level.

While Newcastle's interest is understandable, questions remain over how quickly Levak would break into Eddie Howe's plans.

The Magpies already possess considerable depth in central midfield.

Bruno Guimarães, Jacob Ramsey, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley all provide options in similar areas of the pitch, reducing the immediate need for another central midfielder.

That suggests Levak may have been viewed as a long-term investment rather than a player expected to make an instant impact.

However, it remains too early to rule out further interest, particularly given Newcastle's willingness to make such a substantial opening offer.

Atalanta's rejection sends a clear message that Levak is not currently available for transfer, but Newcastle's interest could remain active if circumstances change later in the window.

The bigger question may be how Atalanta plan to accelerate the midfielder's development, with many expecting him to move closer to the first team during the coming season.

Would Sergej Levak be worth Newcastle United returning with an improved offer this summer?