There was exciting news yesterday that Newcastle reps, including Sporting Director Dan Ashworth, had met with Sandro Tonali’s representatives in London and that we increased our bid for the 23-year-old Italian International to €70M from the previous €50M.
That’s about £60.3M, and Fabrizio Romano is reporting that a deal with AC Milan is very close, but that the final details are still being worked out on how Newcastle will pay for the deal.
Also, Tonali seems very willing to get on the Newcastle train that’s heading to the top, and he is said to (really) want to join Newcastle United.
Certainly, if we can manage to get this one over the line, he will get an enormous welcome on Tyneside and it will be a terrific signing.
Sporting Director Dan Ashworth is in Milan right now for a crucial meeting with the Milan reps, as he tries to push the deal through for Sandro Tonali.
Fabrizio Romano, the Italian Journalist noted for his inside work on transfers, reports that Tonali’s current wages of £76K/week could be doubled at Newcastle, and that personal terms have already been agreed with the player – rumored to be a six-year deal.
And from the reports, it does seem that Newcastle really want to bring in this world-class defensive midfielder, who stands 5ft 11ins tall.
That would free up Bruno Guimaeres to move forward and get some additional assists and goals for the Magpies, which is what we need next season.
Newcastle are also willing to fly to Romania in order to arrange medicals for the midfielder.
The 23 year-old has 14 senior caps for Italy and will be captaining the Italian U21 side in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, which started yesterday in Romania.
He currently has 11 caps for the U23 side and will captain Italy tonight against France in the U21 Euros.
Here is the latest tweet from Fabrizio Romano.
Told Newcastle staff is prepared to fly to Romania in order to arrange medicals for Sandro Tonali. Just waiting for the final green light from the clubs working on fee structure. ????? #NUFC
?? Newcastle did same kind of ‘mission’ in Brazil when they signed Bruno Guimarães. pic.twitter.com/X06ILhBteS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 22, 2023
Here is information from Wikipedia on Tonali’s style of play
He is often likened to Andrea Pirlo – who also started his career with Brescia – in terms of his movement, coordination, appearance, technical qualities, position, and playing style.
A strong, fast, energetic, elegant, and creative midfielder, with excellent vision and an ability to read the game.
Tonali usually plays in a central or defensive midfield role as a deep-lying playmaker in a 4–3–3 formation.
Just what we need.
The deal is not done yet, but it does look like Newcastle are pulling out all the stops to get this deal done as soon as possible.
The structure of how Newcastle will pay for the deal is the last bit in the puzzle – awaiting Milan’s approval.
His signing would be a real tonic to Newcastle and a statement that Newcastle really mean business this summer.
Yes!!!!!!
Comments welcome.
215 comments so far
lochinvar
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:25 PM
Comment #1Uno
I speak Tonali’s language
WLtoon
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:26 PM
Comment #2Young Adam Pearson must be bloody confident of the Tonali deal being done.
Just paid to get Tonali and the number 20 put on his shirt.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Comment #3Another way round the whole squad restrictions would be to sign very good u21 who have pretty decent premier league experience
Gnoto and Lavia come to mind………
dazzler
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:30 PM
Comment #4TDS,
I’ll spare the repost and assume you’ve read my post on the last thread 😀
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:30 PM
Comment #5I’m so confused by one of the current topics/debates about who we need, what will other players think and who do we name in squads.
What’s the alternative? Signing nobody and keeping the squad the same constantly to not risk upsetting anyone and name the same squad each season?
Of course not. It’s natural progression. We’ll sign players. We’ll sell players. Some players will see less game time. Some players will have their squad places replaced by other players.
It happens. It’s moving forward.
I don’t understand what the issue is with that?
We sign players with great attitudes anyway so I doubt anyone is suddenly going to start kicking up a stink because their club is showing ambition in the transfer market.
Mag52
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:31 PM
Comment #6I can hear Sandro Sandro Sandro echoing around SJP now.
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:31 PM
Comment #7Dazzler – I’d say LB depends on Howe’s feelings about that position. Maybe he wants Burn to stay there. But ok, if we signed another LB, Targett stays as backup? Lascelles is backup to Schar? Ashby or Krafth backup to Trips? Dummett backup to the backup?
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:32 PM
Comment #8I understand all of us are sentimental towards the incredible squad and what they achieved last season. But we have to keep moving forward which means some of those players may get less game time or may miss out down the line.
It’s progression.
dazzler
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:33 PM
Comment #9Also, I am still of the belief that we won’t sign a young striker in this window and that our third choice will be Dylan Stephenson. Everyone at the club seems to be high on him, and I expect he’ll be with the first team squad for pre-season and in and around the first team next year.
It also might explain why we’ve been linked with so few strikers in the rumours despite us having only two main strikers in our main squad.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:34 PM
Comment #10Dan the man in Milan 😀
https://twitter.com/alfonso_leocad/status/1671884189292187648?s=19
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:35 PM
Comment #11Dazzler
That would certainly be a surprise and huge step up for him. He’s already 20 and didn’t do much in his loan to Hamilton. I’m not sure he’ll be 3rd choice.
Maybe Howe and the coaching staff see more to him though, in which case i’ll trust their judgement. I’d be surprised though!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:35 PM
Comment #12Last time we were in the champions league we only signed Bowyer despite having a strong squad it went very wrong!
Getting some strength in depth is crucial especially when you see what happens if Bruno or Longstaff is out
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:35 PM
Comment #13Adam – who do we name in squads is an important question because if we’ve got too many players, it means selling existing players.
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:36 PM
Comment #14Raj
That’s the old school type of transfer gossip I love! Photo’s of players and agents spotted in places 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:36 PM
Comment #15“What’s the alternative? Signing nobody and keeping the squad the same constantly to not risk upsetting anyone and name the same squad each season?”
That’s exactly what I thought, where could that debate actually go? It’s been done to death that players coming in aren’t upgrades of so and so just an upgrade to the squad.
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Comment #16TDS
Aye and it’ll probably happen. Players may get sold, or miss out in squad registration, or loaned out. I don’t know what the big deal is.
For what it’s worth the squad Taco listed seems very sensible to me.
cleveleysbob
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:38 PM
Comment #17Adam, keep it up, you’re doing a grand job. 🙂
dazzler
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:39 PM
Comment #18TDS,
It also depends on if Burn is happy sticking to LB, it’s not his natural position after all. It would look like this for me.
RB – Trips, Krafth, Ashby (Good cover)
LB – New LB, Targett, with Burn as emergency (Good cover)
RCB – Schar, Lascelles, Krafth as emergency cover (Good cover)
LCB – Botman, Burn, Dummett as emergency cover (Good cover)
Dummett could also do a job at LB in an absolute disaster but it gives us good cover across the whole of our defence. A new CB does nowt but push Lascelles further down the pecking order, which I don’t want if our plan is to keep him as it could piss him off.
Burn is a far better CB than he is LB (as good as he’s been at LB this season), so to me it makes more sense to have him play there predominantly and sign a specialist full back to challenge Targett on the left.
Mag52
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:39 PM
Comment #19Players want their club to win things.
If it means that they personally will rotate in the team instead of playing every match and we end the season with a trophy or two, they’ll be more than chuffed.
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:39 PM
Comment #20CBob
I’m tired 🙁
Davas
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:41 PM
Comment #21I’m looking forward to seeing how Elliot Anderson does this season. I was probably a bit premature picking him as POS in Martoon’s predictions but it will be interesting how he gets on with another preseason and the experience he gained last season.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:41 PM
Comment #22This is what I’ve been talking about. Two of them are constantly injured and one is about 38 years old. They are foo#ed!!!
Imo 😀
https://twitter.com/FPLSteve/status/1671547261136896001?s=19
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:43 PM
Comment #23Just to address some points:
Man City have 2 CFs in their FT squad
Arsenal have 2 CFs in their FT squad
Man Utd have 2 CFs in their FT squad
We have 2 CFs in our FT squad
Wilson played 31 PL games for us
Isak played 22 PL games for us
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:43 PM
Comment #24Raj
For Chelsea this season it’ll likely be really similar to how Forest started last season. Too many new faces, takes a long time to gel properly and form will be mostly bad with a few ups for the majority of the season. Then may find some form towards the end if the manager gets them gelling together well.
Poch has a really tough job on his hands and if they don’t start well, I can’t see him, the players or the owner being happy.
dazzler
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:44 PM
Comment #25Adam,
In fairness Kane looked absolutely woeful in league one and the championship when he went there in his early days on loan so I am not 100% convinced his loan is a fair representation of what he can do.
Plus from what I read Hamilton had him on the wings a lot of the time and he’s definitely more of a centre forward.
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:45 PM
Comment #26Dazzler – ok, so that’s 10 defenders that need registering. Unless we can get a top LB (better than Burn and Targett) who is very young and doesn’t need registering.
Now add the 3 goalkeepers to that and it’s 13.
Now pick the other 10 (inc Longstaff) for our CL squad
You can pick 12 for our PL squad.
Adamn_92
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Comment #27Dazzler
Fair point about Kane. I can’t say i’ve seen enough of Stephenson to cast much judgement, just a bit concerned that he’s not been on loan at a particularly good level so would be quite the step up. Maybe even just being with the squad for a season could help improve him though?
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:47 PM
Comment #28TDSarf,
Yes but they have multiple MF/wingers capable of scoring ten goals a season. We don’t.
dazzler
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:48 PM
Comment #29TDS,
What are the injury records of the two CFs at Arsenal, Man City and Man Utd?
A wedge of those 31 games for Wilson were off the bench (same with Isak) – We also had Chris Wood starting a fair few until he went to Forest.
With Wilson in your squad you need a third option otherwise you’re just risking burn out or injury in Isak when Wilson’s body inevitably breaks down for a month or two.
Mister Tuff
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:55 PM
Comment #30Think the France v Italy Under 21’s is televised tonight. Tonali is expected to start.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:55 PM
Comment #31Besides, Man City played without a striker for a good while and both Man U and Arsenal are actively trying to buy one this season.
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:56 PM
Comment #32Raj – that’s why I’d like to see us sign one. Almiron got double figures last season and hopefully Gordon can get there too. I still don’t think we’ve got a top class wide attacking player yet we’ve got 2 top class centre forwards.
So many goals these days are scored from players who don’t play as centre forward.
Raj of Hailsley
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:57 PM
Comment #33dazzler,
Even him himself as said we could do with a young prospect so no idea where he’s going with it.
ToonDarnSarf
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:57 PM
Comment #34Raj – Man Utd will buy a striker to replace Weighorst. Plus Martial might be off. Arsenal need a top striker as Nketiah isn’t good enough if Jesus isn’t playing.
No reason we couldn’t play without a striker for a while either.
The Prince's Mate
Jun 22, 2023 at 3:58 PM
Comment #35Toonali Toonarmy Toonali Toonarmy Toonali Toonarmy
HWTT
The Taco Taker
Jun 22, 2023 at 4:01 PM
Comment #36TDS, what so you think of the squad I posted? I only used 20 of the 21 places too so I can sign a 3rd striker.
😉
onmeedsun
Jun 22, 2023 at 4:03 PM
Comment #37I’m sure Eddie and Dan are all over the CL and PL squad requirements. Let’s just see where we land at the end of August. None of us really have a scoobies although there is no harm in hypothesising.
Davas
Jun 22, 2023 at 4:04 PM
Comment #38Clint for earlier
I thought Early Doors was set in Manchester. Well, wherever it was, I enjoyed it. 🙂
onmeedsun
Jun 22, 2023 at 4:04 PM
Comment #39TPM
Yes, was thinking the same. Sean will most likely have to explain that chant to him.
The Taco Taker
Jun 22, 2023 at 4:05 PM
Comment #40Dan Ashworth has now apparently been pictured in Milan!!