Arsenal are reportedly exploring a deadline day move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.
The Gunners are scrambling for late additions to their midfield following Mikel Merino's foot injury and have already initiated talks with Newcastle about a potential late swoop for Tonali, according to Sky Sports Germany. Arsenal are therefore looking to complete a blockbuster transfer before the January transfer window slams shut at 7pm today.
The two Premier League rivals are said to be locked in talks with time running out in the window - but the Magpies may be reluctant to sell the 25-year-old midfielder, who is contracted at the North East side until 2029. According to Sky Sports, a potential deal is going to be 'very difficult' to finalise as Newcastle are reluctant to sanction a sale with less than 12 hours to go until the transfer window closes.
The Italian international has become a key player under Eddie Howe since completing his ban for betting offences. He has been at St James' Park since his £55m record transfer from AC Milan in the summer of 2023, which made him the most expensive Italian footballer of all time.
Arsenal are reportedly exploring a deadline day move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. (Photo: Getty Images)placeholder image
Arsenal are reportedly exploring a deadline day move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. (Photo: Getty Images) | Getty Images
However, he missed a large chunk of his debut campaign on Tyneside because of his involvement in a betting scandal in Italy. In October 2023, he was banned from playing football for 10 months for breaching Italian betting regulations.
This included eight months in gambling rehabilitation. This meant he would miss the rest of that season and Euro 2024. In March 2024, he was charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the Football Association's betting rules.
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The FA alleged Tonali broke rules by placing bets on matches between August and October 2023. He was handed an additional two-month suspended ban by the FA for these breaches in May 2024, though he was allowed to return to football in August on the condition no further breaches were made during the 2024–25 season.
Tonali has since made 67 top-flight appearances for the Magpies. He has played in every Premier League game so far this season, making 21 starts and three substitute appearances. Tonali provided the assist for Nick Woltemade's opener in Newcastle's 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in September.
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