Milan officials are understood to have sounded out Schar’s representatives about a possible switch to Serie A, and are set to discuss the 27-year-old when they meet to finalise their summer recruitment plans later this week. AC Milan boss Marco Giampaolo is keen to sign a new centre-half before the start of the new Serie A season, but Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has blocked his attempts to land Dejan Lovren. As a result, Giampaolo has instructed his recruitment team to switch their attention to Schar, with the centre-half having impressed during his first season in the Premier League. Schar joined Newcastle in a £3m move from Deportivo La Coruna last summer, signing a three-year deal, and made 24 Premier League appearances last term. He is a key part of the Magpies’ squad, but the fact he cost so little to sign means there is an opportunity for Mike Ashley to make a significant profit if AC Milan follow up their initial interest with a formal offer in the next couple of weeks. Newcastle’s off-field position remains in a state of flux, with Sheffield Wednesday refusing to allow Steve Bruce to move to Tyneside until a compensation fee is agreed, but the club should complete their first summer signing in the next few days. Midfielder Kyle Scott is set to join Newcastle following his release from Chelsea, having initially discussed a possible move to St James’ Park with former Magpies manager Rafael Benitez. The 21-year-old, who is a United States Under-20 international, is set to sign a three-year deal on Tyneside, having made one senior appearance for Chelsea before he was released at the end of last month. He was a regular starter for Chelsea’s Under-23s, and spent part of last season on loan at Dutch side Telstar. Meanwhile, caretaker boss Ben Dawson has spoken of his pride at taking charge of Newcastle’s Premier League Asia Trophy campaign in conjunction with fellow Under-23s coach Neil Redfearn. Dawson and Redfearn are currently putting Newcastle’s first-team players through their paces in China ahead of Wednesday’s Asia Trophy opener against Wolves. “It’s really exciting to be in China, since we’ve been asked to come in and look after the squad at this moment in time,” said Dawson, in an interview with Newcastle’s official website. “Everybody has been looking forward to it and working hard. “The staff have put a good plan in place, and we are looking forward to two competitive games to get the pre-season schedule up and running. “I’m feeling really fortunate that the club have trusted myself and Neil to look after things until a new manager comes in. Personally, it’s a great opportunity. “The staff have been terrific with the plan they already had in place and our job is to come in and give it a bit of a football element and try to prepare the lads as best as possible. “It’s a great opportunity for the players to show their appreciation for the fanbase out here. It will be a different culture that they are going to experience. We have already have seen some of them at the hotel to greet us and I’m sure they will all make the most of it. “They (Wolves) are Premier League opposition so I’m expecting, with it being a competitive fixture, it’ll have a bit more edge than the usual friendlies do at this stage. “They will be on a real high from the momentum they gained from the end of last season. They are looking forward to Europa League fixtures also so I expect it will be a really tough game in difficult conditions. The lads are chomping at the bit to get back on the pitch and get back to their day jobs.”
AC Milan is interested in signing Fabian Schar from Newcastle United, after Liverpool FC Manager Jurgen Klopp refused to sell Dejan Lovren to the Serie A team.