The line of questioning facing Howe was pointed: was this the beginning of another "campaign" to unsettle a key player? The concern stems from the painful events of the summer of 2025, when persistent speculation surrounding Alexander Isak eventually culminated in a British record £125m transfer to Liverpool.
During that window, what began as tentative whispers of interest rapidly evolved into a daily barrage of transfer stories, creating a narrative of inevitability that eventually forced Newcastle’s hand. Fans fear that Tonali, who has re-established himself as a vital cog in Howe’s machine following his return from a 10-month ban, could be the next target of such a strategy.
When asked if he feared a repeat of the Isak situation, Howe remained pragmatic. “I don’t think so… but lots of things happen without my knowledge,” he admitted. “As far as I’m aware we have an outstanding person and player and he seems really happy within himself with a great relationship with me and his teammates. So that would surprise me”.
However, the manager was realistic about the status of his squad. “But as one of our best players he’s always going to be attracting glances — that’s the reality of football,” Howe added. “All encompassed I don’t see an issue but I’m not in control of everything”.
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