The Magpies will adopt a tough stance on player sales this summer if big-names ask to leave St James' Park
Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United celebrates victory with teammate Bruno Guimaraes after the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at St James' Park on September 01, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
The Newcastle pair are on United's radar(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
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Newcastle United supremo David Hopkinson has issued a fresh warning that the Magpies will not part with any of their big stars without landing an astronomical fee for their services this summer.
Toon boss Eddie Howe had to say goodbye to Alexander Isak last summer when the Sweden star forced a £125m move to Liverpool. The summer window is still two months away, but there is increasing talk that Sandro Tonali is wanted by Manchester United, Manchester City is ready to return to the table for Tino Livramento, and Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with both the Red Devils and Real Madrid.
Hopkinson admitted earlier this week that Newcastle may have to sell to buy if they are to make any "box office" signings at St James' Park. After being questioned on Isak, who was sold before Hopkinson's arrival, and the striker's conduct during his exit, after he essentially went on strike and refused to take part on the club's tour to the Far East, Hopkinson said: "I don't want to comment on what he (Isak) was and wasn't allowed to do. What I will tell you is when he left on a Premier League transfer record."
Hopkinson used house sales to suggest that there is always a price for the purchaser and added: "I'd use this analogy, I just moved into a nice house to be part of this community. I was emotional and excited to go into that home, but there is always a number, just to be clinical, that I never would have crossed the doorstep (for).
"That is what the best sports organisations are always going to do, is know when it is the moment to extract the maximum value for an asset, a player or otherwise, to drive the club forward to a higher opportunity."
Tonali's agent, Giuseppe Riso, has already been vocal about the prospect of an exit for Tonali this summer, while Livramento has still not signed a new contract extension despite sporting director Ross Wilson making it public that he wanted the England full-back to commit to a new deal.
Down the years Newcastle fans have been scarred by the exit of star players such as Peter Beardsley, Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne, Andy Carroll, Yohan Cabaye and Isak. However, Canadian supremo Hopkinson insists that nobody will be allowed to go unless it fits in with the club's transfer plans.
Hopkinson said: "What I do know is that players that leave the club will do so on our terms."
Newcastle's summer plans are currently up in the air as the Magpies sit in 12th place in the Premier League table. Eddie Howe's transfer budget will be affected if the Magpies don't qualify for Europe with the recruitment department currently working on two scouting models.
Howe could need to replace long serving and experienced right-back Kieran Trippier who is out of contract at the end of the campaign with no new deal on the table for the ex-England man.
Toon chiefs made it clear this week that the expectation is to qualify for at least the Europa League or Europa Conference League leaving Howe with work to do in the final seven games.
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