Sandro Tonali’s representatives are making no secret of their intentions for this summer, with TEAMtalk reporting this week that the Newcastle midfielder has now been offered to Real Madrid, adding yet another suitor to a list that already included Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.
The 25-year-old Italian is considered one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League this season, and his performances for Italy during the international break, including a goal against Northern Ireland, have only strengthened his value ahead of what looks like an inevitable summer departure.
Newcastle’s position has been made clear by CEO David Hopkinson: the club will only sanction his exit on their own terms and at a fee that reflects his market worth, which sources consistently place above £100 million. With Newcastle sitting 12th and facing the prospect of missing European football next season, their leverage in keeping Tonali is shrinking by the week.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed on his YouTube channel that “Manchester United have already made contact with Tonali’s camp to be informed about his situation. There is still no agreement, no negotiation stage yet, but the interest is real and consistent.” He added that “Tonali appreciates the idea of returning to a bigger European stage if all parties align.”
Arsenal’s interest has also been confirmed by Romano, though he noted it is “nothing advanced” from Arteta’s side. The issue for Arsenal is that their midfield is already stacked with Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey, which makes the case for a £100 million+ investment in that position harder to justify.
Man City are described by multiple sources as the club “pushing strongly” for Tonali, which given their resources and Guardiola’s habit of securing midfield targets ahead of rivals makes them arguably the most credible threat. Whether Newcastle actually sell to a direct domestic rival is a separate question entirely.
Tonali’s former club AC Milan and Juventus have been ruled out on financial grounds, which means the move, when it comes, will almost certainly land him in England or Spain.
