Newcastle United are expected to be busy in the summer transfer market
Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson tussles with Newcastle pair Sandro Tonali and Kieran Trippier
Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson tussles with Newcastle pair Sandro Tonali and Kieran Trippier(Image: Iain Buist/Chronicle Live)
View 2 Images
Newcastle United will demand up to £90million to sell Sandro Tonali to Arsenal in the summer.
That is the verdict of former Magpies star Chris Waddle who believes Newcastle can reinvest that money to beat Manchester United to the signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Tonali has established himself as one of the leading midfielders in the Premier League across the last three seasons since joining Newcastle from AC Milan in a £55million move back in 2023.
But talk of a deadline day move to Arsenal in January has cast doubt over his future on Tyneside and after David Hopkinson admitted the club would be prepared if a major player leaves this summer, Tonali appears to be one of the front runners to do just that.
Any move for a player under contract until the summer of 2029 with an option to extend that deal by a further year will not be cheap and Waddle has warned Arsenal that Newcastle will play hard ball in the summer.
Get Chronicle Premium now for just £1HERE– exclusive news and features, our NUFC and Academy notebooks, plus an ad-lite experience
"In the transfer market today you’re looking at £70m-£80m for a player like Sandro Tonali or Bruno Guimaraes, let’s be honest, but probably a bit more in actual fact," Waddle told Chronicle Live via FruityKing.
"Playing for Newcastle at their ages, you’d be looking for around £80m-£90m if somebody wants to pay that for him, then it’s up to the lads whether they want to leave, but Newcastle don’t need to sell them.
"They’re all on good, long-term contracts. The only way they’d sell him is if the player decides he wants to go and starts acting up and we don’t want to see that again.
"If players like Tonali and Bruno have had enough of it on Tyneside, they should come out and say it. Tell the fans and be honest and say after the World Cup, I want to move. I want to leave. Put it out there. Let the fans react to the facts. Don’t do it in a sneaky way.
"If somebody puts a bid in for you and the club accepts it, that's a different story. But if you want to leave, just say it."
Should Tonali leave, the need for a top class replacement would be paramount and many fans would like to see United move to re-sign Anderson from Forest. The Newcastle academy graduate was sold to the East Midlands side two years ago in a bid to stave off sanctions for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and has gone from strength to strength at the City Ground.
Anderson is now a regular at international level for England and is reportedly a summer transfer target for both Manchester United and Manchester City. But Waddle believes Newcastle would hold the edge in negotiations should they decide to try and re-sign the 23-year-old.
"Elliot Anderson is a Newcastle fan," Waddle added.
Former Newcastle United winger Chris Waddle
Former Newcastle United winger Chris Waddle (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
View 2 Images
"He’s a Geordie. He probably couldn’t believe he got sold to Nottingham Forest in the first place but he’s enjoying his football, he’s in the England team, and it looks like he’ll be going to the World Cup.
"He'll not be in a rush but the chance of going back to Newcastle? I'm sure he's always wanted to play in those black and white stripes and I'm sure he'll be up for it. But I think, again, there'll be a lot of competition.
"I think he's on his game at the minute, let's be honest. He's playing well for Forest. He's consistent. Week in, week out he does a job, and so he's been in good form. You would think at his age, he'd only get better as he gets older. Most players do.
"There'll be a lot of teams eyeing him up so you'd have a lot to pick from if he does decide to leave Forest. Newcastle may just swing it because he’s a Newcastle fan."
England's 2026 World Cup kits
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Content Image