The Magpies midfielder has been linked with a move away from St James' Park in the summer
Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United
Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
View Image
Newcastle United have been told to give Sandro Tonali's agent short shrift over speculation on a summer move, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Juventus said to be keen on the Italian star.
While the club were quick to play down any talk that Tonali was looking to leave St James' Park, his agent Giuseppe Riso recently spoke to the Italian media, when he admitted they would review his situation in the summer.
United head coach Eddie Howe is confident the player is fully commited to the cause, with Tonali signing a recent contract extension.
Newcastle stuck by the 25-year-old during a 10-month ban for football gambling-related activities, and the Itay international has spoken about the affection he feels for the club.
However, with rumours of Arsenal being keen on a summer move, or a return to his native Italy again stoked up by Riso's post-transfer window comments, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has taken a swipe at the players' representatives.
And he has told Newcastle they hold all the cards when it comes to his future.
“I would be saying to you, you've got a contract that looks like you're staying with us until 2029, so shut your face and pack it in," Jordan told talkSPORT.
“I'd also want to be answering the question a little bit more comprehensively about who was offering who to whom.
“The agent seemed to be indicating that Newcastle or some permutation or guise 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 and that's fine.
“The agent can't offer anybody to anybody. He's registered with Newcastle. So Newcastle have got him under contract until 2029.
“It's 2026, so 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?”
Speaking earlier this month, Riso had told Tuttosport: "Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League.
"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.
“We’ll evaluate and decide what to do in the summer.”
Tonali continues to be an important part of Eddie Howe's squad, although has struggled to match his performance levels of last season, which saw him hailed as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
He is set to start against Tottenham tonight, continuing his run of being involved for United in every Premier League game so far this season.
Content Image
Content Image