Leeds United v Arsenal - Premier League
Arsenal have held last-minute discussions to land Newcastle star Sandro Tonali (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are trying to ‘find solutions’ in the final few hours of the January transfer window following an injury to Mikel Merino.
The Premier League leaders have been forced to change their stance and scour the winter market for a central midfielder after learning that Merino is set to be sidelined for approximately four months due to a broken foot.
Merino played no part in Arsenal’s 4-0 thumping of Leeds on Saturday afternoon and it was subsequently confirmed that the Spaniard will be forced to undergo surgery.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News this morning, Sky Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg revealed ‘top sources’ had informed him that the Gunners were exploring a possible deal for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.
He claimed Tonali had been the subject of ‘direct talks’ in the previous couple of hours.
But Newcastle were quick to knock back Arsenal’s audacious approach for the 25-year-old Italy international, reluctant to part with such a key player midway through their campaign.
The north London giants have not given up hope, though, and are pressing ahead with their efforts to bring in a midfielder to replace the injured Merino before today’s transfer deadline at 19:00 GMT.
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Paris Saint-Germain v Newcastle United FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8
Arsenal have held ‘direct talks’ for the Italy midfielder (Picture: Getty)
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Asked if Merino’s broken foot had changed Arteta’s thinking before the end of the transfer window, Arteta told reporters on Monday: ‘Of course.
‘When you lose a big player like this in the squad with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to look.
‘We need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available. If we don’t, we keep what we have.’
Leeds United v Arsenal - Premier League
The Gunners are exploring their options in the final few hours of the window (Picture: Getty)
Pressed on whether it would need to be someone ‘special’ for Arsenal to pursue a last-ditch deal, Arteta replied: ‘At this level, especially for four months, you have to be a player who has the capacity to adapt immediately and impact the team, and that’s not easy.
‘But if it was easy, we wouldn’t be here. So we need to find solutions and try.’
It remains to be seen if Arsenal will return with a follow-up approach for Tonali before the transfer deadline comes and goes.
Arsenal v Manchester United - Premier League
Merino will be out of action for around four months with a broken foot (Picture: Getty)
Liverpool v Newcastle United - Carabao Cup Final
Tonali lifted the Carabao Cup with the Magpies last term (Picture: Getty)
Tonali is enjoying his third season with Newcastle having completed a £55million move from AC Milan back in 2023.
In that time, Tonali has made 91 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies and was on the winning side last season as Eddie Howe’s men went all the way in the Carabao Cup.
However, the ex-Milan and Brescia midfielder was slapped with a ten-month ban for breaching Italian betting regulations in October 2023, meaning he played just eight league games in his debut season at Newcastle.
Tonali’s current contract in the north east runs through to June 2028, with the option of a further 12 months.
Liverpool v Newcastle United - Premier League
He played the full 90 minutes of Newcastle’s 4-1 loss to Liverpool at the weekend (Picture: Getty)
The Italian’s form has been up and down in recent weeks and Newcastle boss Howe came to his defence after an especially underwhelming performance against Leeds.
It came as Tonali’s wife, Juliette Pastore, was due to give birth to their baby boy, who was born just hours later.
‘The players are, of course, human beings,’ Howe told reporters after Tonali was hauled off at half-time in Newcastle’s 4-3 win.
‘They have loads going on in their private lives continually, as we all do, and the balance between work and private life and making sure your work is not affected by your private life is an ongoing battle for everybody.
Newcastle United FC v PSV Eindhoven - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7
Tonali is in his third season at St James’ Park (Picture: Getty)
‘The lads are really professional, they know the importance of what they deliver on a weekend or whenever they’re playing, for themselves, for their families, for their careers.
‘But occasionally I have to understand what’s going on in their lives and when maybe things are going on off the pitch that affect them and I can support them and help them, and as a football club we can support and help them in every moment of their lives.
‘It’s not just babies and other things, there’s so much going on in daily life that can have an effect positively and negatively.’
Should Sandro Tonali move to Arsenal?
Yes, it's a great opportunity.
No, he should stay loyal to Newcastle.
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Newcastle United FC Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD7
The Newcastle star is tied into a contract until June 2029 (Picture: Getty)
Earlier this season, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes caught many fans by surprise as he picked out Tonali as the best midfield player in the Premier League.
Asked who he classed as the finest midfielder in the English top flight, Scholes said on Sky Bet’s The Overlap: ‘Right now? That’s tough.
‘I still don’t class Moises Caicedo as an all-round midfield player. I know he scored a great goal and was brilliant the other day.
‘I got some stick last year after having a go at him and I almost thought about taking that back because he was brilliant in the Club World Cup.
Manchester United v Olympique Lyonnais - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg
Manchester United icon Scholes is a big fan of Tonali (Picture: Getty)
‘I just prefer the controlling type of midfield players who play with a bit more style and can score goals a bit more often than Caicedo.
‘It was a brilliant goal against Liverpool but you wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t do that again for another 18 months would you?
‘He’s one of the best at what he does which is breaking up the play, he’s brilliant at that. But I prefer the other types.
Moldova v Italy - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier
Tonali has been capped 30 times by the Italian national team (Picture: Getty)
‘Alexis Mac Allister was absolutely brilliant last season, he controlled a lot of games and I think Liverpool are missing that at the moment.
‘I love Sandro Tonali as well. He’s been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point.’
Pressed if he was genuinely naming Tonali as the best midfielder in the league, Scholes replied: ‘Yes, you’re going to say Declan Rice but I think he’s better than Rice.
‘I really like Rice, don’t get me wrong, I think he’s got everything. Sometimes he takes a few too many touches of the ball and tries to look a bit more stylish than necessary.
‘He can do everything but I just don’t think he does it enough. I prefer Tonali but they’re both good players.’
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