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Sandro Tonali’s agent has fuelled speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future at Newcastle United.
Tonali was reportedly offered to Arsenal on winter transfer deadline day and while his agent Giuseppe Riso strongly denied that was the case, his comments have only fuelled talk of a summer exit.
In the past week, there have been media reports linking the Italian with not just the Gunners, but Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus too.
What Sandro Tonali’s agent said about the midfielder’s future at Newcastle United
“Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League,” Riso told Tuttosport last week.
“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 at the moment. 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 in moving, especially since Sandro is very attached to the club.”
A few days earlier, Riso also said: “We will see around March about Sandro’s valuation but only if Newcastle decide to open doors.”
Simon Jordan tells Sandro Tonali’s agent to shut up
Amid the noise, former Crystal Palace owner Jordan has hit out at Riso by highlighting Tonali’s contract situation at St James’ Park.
The 25-year-old is under contract until 2029, which includes an option of a further year, after signing an extension as a show of loyalty during his 10-month betting ban.
Jordan told talkSPORT: “I would be saying to him, ‘you've got a contract that looks like you're staying with us till 2029, so shut your face and pack it in’. I'd also want to be answering the question a little bit more comprehensively about who was offering who to whom, because it's not a case of you don't know.
“The agent seemed to be indicating that Newcastle or some permutation or guys of Newcastle was offering a player to Arsenal. Now, if I'm the chief executive of that business, I would know that, wouldn't I?
“I wouldn't say I didn't know because I'm damn sure it wasn't Eddie Howe offering it to him. And I'm pretty sure if it's not the chief executive, who could it possibly be? Now, the agent might be offering the player to Arsenal.
“That's not his gift. The agent can't offer anybody to anybody. He's registered with Newcastle. Newcastle look like they've got him under contract until 2029. It's 2026.
“Why would an agent feel that he has one single scintilla of a mandate to offer him a cup of coffee? Let alone to another football club.”
Newcastle United’s stance on Sandro Tonali’s future
The message from Newcastle is that Tonali is not for sale but they’ve been here before after Alexander Isak forced his £130million British record move to Liverpool last summer.
“As far as I'm aware, we've got a player that's an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe last week.
“He's very happy here, he's got a great relationship with me, his teammates. He seems really, really happy within himself, so that would surprise me, but I think he's always going to be attracting, or our best players will always be attracting glances from other clubs. That's just the reality of football.
“We want to keep the group together, we want to keep being progressive and, of course, Sandro plays a part in that, trying to hit his best levels and play as well as he can to help the team. So, all encompassed, I don't see an issue, but as I say, I'm not in control of everything.
“Certainly there was no intention from our side to lose Sandro at all. I think he's such an integral player to what we're doing. I think he's very happy here, he loves playing for Newcastle and loves representing the city.”
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