Sandro Tonali with his manager Eddie Howe
The Italy midfielder, 25, is expected to be at the heart of another transfer saga at Newcastle United after his agent revealed last week that his client is considering his future.
While Juventus have concrete interest in bringing him back to Serie A, Tonali was also linked with Arsenal on transfer deadline day and Manchester City have monitored his progress. It is understood that he is high on the list of midfielders being considered at United, along with Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton.
United have confirmed that Casemiro will leave them in the summer at the end of his contract, leaving a hole in their midfield. Tonali is now firmly on their radar after his three seasons in the Premier League as they look at long-term options.
Newcastle would stand to make a huge profit on the £55m they paid AC Milan in 2023, with the player now in his third season in English football, during which he also served a ban for breaching Italian betting regulations. During his ban he signed a new contract taking him to 2029 with the option of a further year.
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With central midfielders Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo and Declan Rice being bought for more than £100m each, Newcastle would be expected to receive a huge fee for Tonali.
Eddie Howe, the Newcastle head coach, has spoken to Tonali since his future was put into sharp focus on deadline day and has been assured his player is happy, but that will not stop other clubs being interested.
The comments of Giuseppe Riso, Tonali’s agent, also caused a stir last week. “Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League,” Riso told Tuttosport in Italy.
“We’ll evaluate and decide what to do in the summer. These transfer discussions will take place later. We’ll see how the season ends and then we’ll decide what to do.
“There’s no preference. It’s still early. What we’re saying today won’t apply tomorrow. Newcastle couldn’t let him go now, and there’s no point moving, especially since Sandro is very attached to the club.”
Newcastle are in the Champions League play-offs, where they face Qarabag to reach the last 16, but they are 12th in the table and qualifying for the competition next term may require them winning club football’s biggest prize this season.
United will look to bring in a midfielder for Casemiro, who has missed one Premier League game since October 4. Nottingham Forest’s Anderson has broken into the England team, while Wharton, of Crystal Palace, is expected to have clubs bidding for him in the summer. United have also previously made inquiries over Carlos Baleba at Brighton.