Alexander Isak of Newcastle United hugs teammates Jacob Murphy and Bruno Guimaraes as he celebrates scoring his team's first goal
Much has been made of Alexander Isak quality, the natural interest in his services and his potential price tag of late - but Newcastle United may be wise to expect the same, frustrating, Sandro Tonali talk in the near future. This, due to the fact the Magpies not only own one of the best strikers in the world - but one of the best midfielders too.
Wednesday’s hard-fought victory over Brentford was a reminder, as if anyone needed one, that Sandro Tonali is different level. The Italian possesses it all.
An engine that ‘is still purring when it drives back into the garage’, in the words of national team boss Luciano Spalletti, an eye for a stunning pass, gut-busting runs in the channels, tenacious hunger to retrieve possession, incredible positional awareness with or without the ball and the ability to score stunning goals. Even if he doesn't always mean them!
The list could, in truth, go on. He is the heartbeat of this much-loved Newcastle United side. Not since prime N'Golo Kante at Chelsea have I, personally, seen a player in the middle of the park look so effortlessly complete.
Newcastle's No 6 has shored up the defence behind him and strives to help those in front of him. Eddie Howe, who continues to get the best out of the £55m man, looks to have unlocked a frightening prospect by dropping Tonali deeper in recent months.
"I think we’ve seen a big uplift since he’s changed position," the Newcastle boss told reporters after Wednesday's win over Brentford. "I think that was maybe a turning point in his career here. I think he looks a lot more comfortable in the position he’s playing now."
“I have to say, defensively, I think he’s been outstanding for us with his athleticism and his ability to read danger. That’s been of the highest level, and it goes without saying that technically he’s very good. He makes very good decision on the pitch consistently, and that’s what makes him the player that he is.”
Talk of an Italy return will, frustratingly, continue to fester. A Scudetto-winning ‘Milanista’, you can barely go one week without at least one news outlet in Europe or a former San Siro player talking up a potential reunion in his native country.
Naturally, with such performances on the biggest domestic stage of them all, you would not be surprised to see the Real Madrids and Bayern Munichs of the world come knocking too. However, Newcastle know the diamond they have on their hands - and are firmly aware they have a player who feels settled in the north east of England.
Tonali and his partner, Juliette Pastore, recently got engaged and have taken a shine for the beautiful coasts of Northumberland. This does not look like a player who is pining for the comforts of his home. This is a player who looks to be relishing showcasing his talents in the best league in the world.
At 24, you fear the best is yet to come. It is also worth remembering, Tonali has only been back in action for seven months since his lengthy suspension - and the midfielder won't have completed an entire season back in black and white until 2026.
"It was a difficult season. But now I am happy to come back free, come back happy. I am a new player. I just want to help this team and these players," Tonali told Chronicle Live this week. "The players for me are amazing and the fans are too. Everybody in Newcastle are happy, we will push 100 per cent for this city."
For all the previous talk of Bruno Guimaraes and £100m release clauses, and a potential departure for Isak in the near future, Tonali may well be the next Newcastle favourite to be unfairly touted with a move elsewhere.
This, due to the fact with each passing week he looks a level above his Tyneside co-stars. It is hard to argue with the fact the Italian is already one of the world's greatest in his field.
A pleasure to watch, a joy to behold and rightly a firm favourite in these parts already. Long may that continue.