Newcastle United transfers: Sandro Tonali was reportedly offered to Arsenal on transfer deadline day.
Reports emerged on Monday morning from Sky Sport in Germany that the Premier League leaders are exploring a ‘surprising’ late move for the 25-year-old.
Newcastle sources were quick to play down any possibility of Tonali leaving, insisting no contact had been made from Arsenal. Sky Sports in the UK then doubled down by stating there was ‘no truth’ in their sister outlet's claims of Newcastle rejecting an approach from Arsenal.
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David Ornstein drops major Sandro Tonali claim before transfer deadline
But there is no smoke without fire and with Arsenal looking for a midfielder in the final hours of the winter transfer window, Tonali was supposedly offered to The Gunners.
According to transfer expert David Ornstein, Tonali was indeed offered to Arsenal but no contact was made with Newcastle, and an exit is ‘impossible’.
Ornstein wrote: “Sandro Tonali offered to Arsenal by agent so #AFC explored but no contact with Newcastle United; nothing will happen this window. 25yo’s camp put idea to Andrea Berta so looked into as per any player of interest. #NUFC exit now impossible.”
This will come as a worrying development for Newcastle, particularly given the speculation surrounding Tonali’s future and his comments made earlier this season.
Sandro Tonali’s agent hits back
But Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso hit back at the claims, stating via Sky Italia: “We never had any conversation with Arsenal.
“Newcastle were never gonna let Tonali leave in January. There’s absolutely nothing into it. We didn’t even talk about it.”
As such the full story remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that Tonali will remain a Newcastle player for the reason of the season at least.
Sandro Tonali on his future at NUFC
Tonali remains under a long-term contract on Tyneside, which runs until the summer of 2029 with the option of a further year.
Addressing his future earlier this season, Tonali left the door open to a potential exit despite claiming he is ‘happy’ on Tyneside.
“This is a tough question because in football, you need to think year on year,” Tonali said when asked about his future at Newcastle in November.
“I don’t want to say ‘I want to stay here 10 years’ and in two years, three years, four years, five years I will go. I want to think, just for me, year on year.
“This is football. Last summer was tough for us, for Alex [Isak], but this is football.
“If you have an option for your life, for another team you need to think about everything. I don’t want to say, ‘Yes, I want to stay here for 10 years’ but now I’m happy here. I don’t think anything about another team.”
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