Football
Exclusive: Arsenal Set for Summer Raid on Newcastle Midfielder Sandro Tonali
Premier League leaders Arsenal are eyeing a summer move for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, despite Newcastle's resistance. Tonali's agent has hinted at a potential transfer while Arsenal, Juventus, and Manchester United also show interest. The player's commitment to Newcastle is apparent but the allure of top-level competition may see him move. Arsenal are expected to make a £40 million offer in a potential transfer battle.
Newcastle United v Brentford - Premier League by Michelle Mercer | Getty Images
Arsenal are preparing to crank up the pressure in a blockbuster bid to prise Sandro Tonali away from Newcastle, despite boss Eddie Howe insisting his midfield lynchpin is going nowhere, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The Premier League pace-setters were sensationally linked with a deadline-day swoop.
Newcastle’s response was emphatic: not for sale. Club sources stressed there had been no contact and no negotiations. Still, the speculation refuses to fade.
Tonali, 25, joined from AC Milan in July 2023 for around £55million, penning an initial five-year deal.
A Serie A title-winner in 2021-22, he arrived on Tyneside with 130 Milan appearances to his name after first bursting onto the scene at Brescia.
In total, he has made more than 300 senior club appearances, scoring 20 goals and earning 30 caps for Italy.
BETTING BAN
Despite serving a 10-month betting ban shortly after his move to England for breaching Italian betting regulations, the Italian returned determined to repay Newcastle’s faith.
He signed an extra one-year extension during that spell, and the club hold an option to keep him until 2030, putting the Magpies in a commanding contractual position.
But Arsenal are lurking and so too are Juventus and Manchester United.
Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, denied speaking to Arsenal but raised eyebrows when discussing valuation.
“That’s something we will do in March or April if Newcastle are open to it,” he said, a comment that has only fuelled talk of a summer showdown.
Howe, though, has moved quickly to cool the noise. After holding talks with Tonali ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City, the Newcastle boss was emphatic.
Newcastle could face a similar dilemma with young midfielder Lewis Miley. European giants, including Borussia Dortmund, have been linked with the 19-year-old if the Magpies fail to qualify for Champions League football. Should that happen, Newcastle may be forced to consider selling one of their brightest prospects to balance the books and navigate financial regulations.
NO ISSUE
“His only focus was on Manchester City and trying to win that game so there's absolutely no issue with Sandro himself,” said Howe.
“He's very happy and committed… Having discussed things with him, he's absolutely fine.”
Tonali himself insisted in November: “I am happy at Newcastle,” though admitted it was “difficult” to think long term.
Yet with Newcastle’s form wobbling and Arsenal chasing domestic glory and Champions League nights, the temptation is obvious.
Tonali wants to be at the World Cup with Italy and playing at the very highest level.
Newcastle say the door is shut, but Arsenal are ready to knock again with an offer of £40million likely to be on the table for the highly-rated playmaker.
This one has all the makings of the summer’s biggest transfer fight.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.