SANDRO TONALI’S AGENT CONFIRMS SUMMER TRANSFER TALKS WILL DECIDE MIDFIELDER’S FUTURE
Sandro Tonali’s agent confirms the midfielder will weigh his Newcastle future this summer, with Arsenal and Juventus on high alert.
Sandro Tonali might be on his way out of Newcastle this summer because he wants Champions League football next season. Back in January, things got a little shaky for him. Rumours started flying that his agent offered him to Arsenal, and just recently, his camp finally spoke up about what’s next.
Word is, Tonali’s name landed on Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta’s desk during the last days of the January window. Arsenal didn’t make a move, but the idea of Tonali wanting out stirred up plenty of talk on Tyneside.
Eddie Howe had to face questions about Tonali’s future right before their Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City. It didn’t help when Tonali walked off the pitch at the Etihad looking frustrated after Newcastle lost 5-1 on aggregate.
According to The Athletic, Tonali’s people reached out to Berta to talk about a possible switch. It didn’t happen in January, but Tonali, who cost Newcastle £55 million when they signed him from AC Milan in 2023, is open to leaving in the summer. His agent, Giuseppe Riso, confirmed that. Arsenal are watching, but so are Manchester City, Juventus, and Chelsea.
“Newcastle don’t want to let Sandro go, and he wants to take them to the Champions League,” Riso told Tuttosport. “We’ll look at things in the summer and decide. The transfer talk will happen later. We need to see how the season finishes before we make a call.”
He continued, “There’s no favourite club right now. It’s too soon. What we say today could be different tomorrow. Newcastle couldn’t let him go in January, and there’s no point making a move now since Sandro really cares about the club.”
Alan Shearer has warned Newcastle that if they miss out on the Champions League, players like Tonali—who’s under contract until 2028—could leave. Right now, Newcastle have to get past Qarabag in a two-legged play-off just to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, but sitting 11th in the league, they’re nowhere near the qualifying spots.
Howe sounded confident when asked about Tonali. “As far as I know, we’ve got a brilliant footballer and a fantastic person. He’s happy here, gets along with everyone, and seems totally settled,” Howe said.
He added, “Honestly, I’d be surprised if he’s unsettled, but top players always get attention from other clubs. That’s just football.
“We want to keep this squad together and keep moving forward, and Sandro’s a big part of that. From our side, we never wanted to lose him. He’s crucial to what we’re building. He’s happy here.
“He’s absolutely fine. I spoke to him yesterday, and he’s focused on playing for us. His mind’s on the Man City game, nothing else. There’s no issue—he’s committed.”
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
