Arsenal have received Sandro Tonali green light for Newcastle transfer | Football | Sport
If Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants an insight into Sandro Tonali, he need look no further than Gunners defender and Tonali’s Italy colleague Riccardo Calafiori. Newcastle midfielder Tonali has emerged as a potential transfer target following Mikel Merino’s lengthy injury layoff, though the Magpies are reluctant to sell, with reports indicating no talks between the two clubs have commenced at this point. His agent is said to have offered him to the Premier League leaders, however.
Calafiori welcomed his international team-mate back into action last season after a prolonged club and country ban. Tonali endured 10 months on the sidelines after receiving a suspension for violating betting rules, missing Euro 2024 in the process, but returned to Azzurri duty less than two months after the tournament finished.
Tonali’s outing for Italy against France in September 2024 represented his first international appearance in almost 12 months.
He produced an outstanding display in a 3-1 Nations League triumph, setting up Federico Dimarco’s leveller and earning glowing reviews from teammate Calafiori.
“What is he giving us that’s different from the European Championship? He’s a beast, he combines quantity with quality, you can see that the Premier League helps guys like him, me, and other guys a lot,” Calafiori told Sky Sports at the time in a very clear endorsment of Tonali’s abilities.
Tonali featured regularly throughout that Nations League campaign as Italy reached the quarter-finals before succumbing to a 5-4 aggregate loss against Germany.
He has remained a mainstay in World Cup qualifying, missing only one match as Italy secured a play-off spot by claiming second place in their group behind Norway.
Newcastle secured Tonali’s services on a five-year deal in 2023, handing Milan a reported £55million fee. The midfielder is said to have agreed to a contract extension whilst serving his suspension, though no official announcement has been made.
“His physicality is one of the standout attributes that he possesses,” Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said about Tonali earlier this season. “He makes the difference continually for us in that way.
“Most midfielders have to have that element of athleticism and ideally a gear change when we’re getting countered on, or when we need to go forward. He possesses a couple of gear changes, but then you add to that his technical ability and tactical understanding, it does make him a really good player.”
Arsenal are considering their alternatives, but they won’t be recalling Ethan Nwaneri from his loan spell at Marseille. The Gunners are understood not to possess a recall clause for the youngster, meaning he’ll remain at the Stade Velodrome until the summer.
