Newcastle star Sandro Tonali has been attracting plenty of transfer attention
Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali
Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali's future has been the subject of speculation
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The sound of the last final whistles of the seaosn had barely died away when the first Sandro Tonali transfer rumours surfaced, with the Italian again linked with a move away from Newcastle United.
It comes as no surprise, with Tonali one of the most valuable players on United's books. As soon as the Magpies made it clear that they would have to sell in order to keep investing in the squad, Tonali was always going to be linked with a move away.
His agent Guiseppe Riso has not been shy in stirring the pot earlier this year, with interest from Arsenal, Man City, Man United, Real Madrid and PSG reported at various stages.
Newcastle, of course, want to keep their best players, and will only sell if offers meet their valuation of their top stars. So can United afford to lose him and what should their transfer stance be? Here are the thoughts of our team of NUFC writers.
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Lee Ryder
Losing Sandro Tonali will take Newcastle United back a couple of years with the midfield maestro underlining his class this season. Of course, he has a goal or two in him, but his slick passing play and organisational skills in front of the back four are vital in my opinion.
Retaining him also helps attract other star names but Newcastle will have to make moves to keep him happy. A new deal wouldn't go amiss, but they could also offer him the vice-captaincy too.
Tonali skippered the Magpies recently against AFC Bournemouth and will be in the leadership group next season. Newcastle should kill off talk of a move to Man United, Man City or Arsenal and send a statement to their rivals with a new improved deal.
Sean McCormick
In an ideal world you always want Newcastle to keep their best players. Last season, and even at the start of this season, Tonali felt like the player to build this Magpies team around. The midfielder who was the envy of the rest of the Premier League.
Those levels may have slightly dipped as this season progressed but there is no doubt Newcastle are a better team with Tonali in it and it will be a bitter blow if they lose him this summer.
His agent's comments about his potential next move are not helpful and I fear talk of his exit will continue throughout the summer. You can put a pin in a return to Italy as, put simply, no Italian club can afford the fee it would take to extract him from St James' Park.
Newcastle paid £55million to sign Tonali three years ago and in that time he has developed into one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. He is still effectively under contract for four years. It would take an astronomical fee to sell him.
Manchester United and Manchester City have both been linked with the 26-year-old but it seems as if they are focusing their attention elsewhere.
Arsenal feel like the only viable place Tonali could end up in England, after they tested the waters on deadline day in January, while if Real Madrid or PSG came knocking with a huge offer it would be hard for all parties to refuse.
My preference would be to retain to Tonali, to build the team around him and Bruno Guimaraes and hopefully Newcastle can revitalise the star men they keep at the club with some exciting signings.
Stuart Jamieson
One year ago there would be no debate. Tonali was Newcastle's best player for me in the 2024-25 season. This season, less so, but then he is not the only one to have had a below-par campaign.
There's no doubt Bruno Guimaraes is able to have a bigger influence on games when Tonali is in the side, so losing him would be a huge blow to United's midfield dynamic. Lewis Miley will have a huge future in the middle of the park, but it would be far better if he continues his impressive progress alongside Tonali.
The reality is that Newcastle would find it hard to turn down a seriously big offer - we would have to be talking north of £90m - while Tonali could understandably be swayed by interest from the likes of Real Madrid and PSG. However, he can be instrumental in helping what could be a new-look United side kick on next term.
It's time to re-energise the Italian midfielder, along with a few others, with a series of exciting signings.
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