Newcastle United chief executive David Hopkinson expressed his feelings towards Manchester United-linked Sandro Tonali following reports that the Italy international could leave St. James’ Park this summer.
The search for new midfielders is ongoing at Manchester United. A day doesn’t pass without an update of some sort.
That’s a sign the transfer window is near. United have seven Premier League games to play to secure Champions League qualification, which would be another pull factor for any potential signing.
However, finding a replacement for Casemiro won’t be easy. That is why there has been no shortage of high-profile targets such as Eduardo Camavinga and Sandro Tonali.
Sandro Tonali trains with Italy
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Sandro Tonali’s Newcastle future remains up in the air
Newcastle chief executive David Hopkinson and chief financial officer Simon Capper sat down with journalists for a briefing on multiple topics.
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail was in the room to document Hopkinson’s stance on manager Eddie Howe and star player Tonali potentially coming to the end of their time at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle fans are wary of losing another key player in the summer, after Alexander Isak was sold for a British record £125 million to Liverpool last year.
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When asked about Newcastle’s strategy going forward and the prospect of losing more star players, Hopkinson made it clear that he views the Magpies as a selling club: “Going forward, our strategy is to buy well and sell well.
“Buying well does not necessarily mean spending the most money. It means working in the marketplace for the players that generate the most value for this club rather than the fee paid for them.
“So there are a multitude of strategies we need to employ, including developing our own, looking for opportunities in the marketplace and making sure we are maximising our opportunity within the available price we can produce.”
The Newcastle chief executive admitted that means extracting the maximum price from each signing.
When asked more specifically about Tonali’s potential transfer in the summer, he said any player under contract can only leave on Newcastle’s terms.
“We haven’t got an overall strategy with regards players out, necessarily,” Hopkinson added.
“We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer. But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club. Players that leave this club will need to do so on our terms.”
This is confirmation that every player in the Newcastle squad has a price.
Newcastle have made it clear they won’t stand in Tonali’s way of leaving if a club like United made an offer they deem acceptable.
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Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimarâes on red alert after Newcastle update
Tonali isn’t the only Newcastle player being linked with a summer move to United.
Anthony Gordon emerged as a United target recently, and Bruno Guimarâes is no stranger to being linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Both players will feel less secure about their futures after Hopkinson’s recent comments, but it always means they have a route out of the club rather than being held against their wishes if a big offer came in.
Newcastle are currently 12th in the Premier League and run the risk of missing out on European football ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
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