The shock Arsenal deadline day deal which could stun the Premier League – and Newcastleplaceholder image
The shock Arsenal deadline day deal which could stun the Premier League – and Newcastle | AFP via Getty Images
Arsenal have unexpectedly been linked with a deadline day transfer deal which would send shockwaves through the Premier League.
Arsenal could be set to spring one of the biggest shocks of transfer deadline day, according to new reports – with the Gunners supposedly lining up a last-gasp bid for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.
According to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, there have been direct talks between the two sides over a possible deal. Newcastle are reported to have rejected an initial bid, but Arsenal are still “exploring” the opportunity to get a deal over the line. But why would Arsenal make such a move, and will they really be able to pull off such an audacious deal?
Why Arsenal might want to sign Sandro Tonali on transfer deadline day
Arsenal had been expected to be among the Premier League’s quieter teams on transfer deadline day, but that now appears to have changed following an injury suffered by Mikel Merino, who is set to undergo surgery on a foot injury.
Mikel Arteta told the media that Merino “expected to be out of action for an extended period, with the aim of returning to full training before the end of the season.” Initial reports had suggested that Arsenal might look for a short-term replacement on loan, but few pundits expected a move as ambitious as a bid for Tonali.
The 25-year-old Italian may not have been quite as consistently impressive of a performer as he had been last season, when he played a key role in helping Newcastle to reach the Champions League and win the EFL Cup, but he remains a highly effective box-to-box midfielder whose passing range, defensive acumen and technical skills would make him a useful complement to Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi in the heart of Arteta’s midfield.
Tonali is not quite a like-for-like replacement for Merino, whose attacking qualities meant that he often played a more aggressive role and had even filled in as a striker when injuries struck, but the former AC Milan man perhaps offers more defensive quality – over the course of the 2025/26 season, Tonali has been responsible for more turnovers and interceptions than Merino, and has been far more successful in one-on-one situations.
His ability to impact all three phases of the game should make him an ideal signing for Arsenal if they believe that another body is required in the midfield rotation alongside Rice, Zubimendi and back-up Christian Nørgaard, but can they really get a deal over the line this Monday?
Why Newcastle may yet keep Tonali despite deadline day offer
There has been almost constant speculation over Tonali’s long-term future at St. James’ Park over the past 18 months, but that had been fuelled more by speculation that he was a target for Serie A sides such as Juventus than by reports that he could move to another Premier League side.
The midfielder had seemingly shut all the gossip down, however, by signing a new long-term contract with Newcastle just last week, which seemingly tied him to the club until 2029. Arsenal’s late interest therefore comes as a significant surprise, and the terms of their offer are not yet known.
Sky Sports Germany reported that a deal would be difficult to agree with Newcastle likely to expect a significant transfer fee and to find a replacement before they would accept any offer – but to confuse the situation further, initial reports from Sky Sports Germany on social media were deleted, as was a story on Sky Sports’ Transfer Centre in the UK, before those reports were replaced by stories that stated that Arsenal’s initial approach had been turned down.
As such, the picture is muddy and the odds that a deal can be struck hard to work out. It’s a highly ambitious move that faces many hurdles, and which would surely require a very significant fee to reach completion. At the time of writing, we suspect that such a deal will not take place on deadline day – but there are many hours before the window closes at 7pm, and Arsenal are desperate to ensure that they have the resources to win their first Premier League title in over two decades.
Continue Reading