AGENT GIUSEPPE RISO REVEALS SANDRO TONALI’S DESIRE TO JOIN ARSENAL OR MAN CITY
Sandro Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso confirms the midfielder's goal is to join a top club like Arsenal or Manchester City.
Sandro Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, really stirred up talk about the Newcastle midfielder’s future. He’s made it clear Tonali wants to play for Arsenal or Manchester City, and honestly, he’s been aiming for a move to a top Premier League club ever since he landed in Newcastle from AC Milan last year.
Riso gave an open interview to Italian media, turning up the heat on Tonali’s situation just as the midfielder missed Newcastle’s win over Chelsea through illness. That same bug, by the way, has hit Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon lately, too. Eddie Howe hopes Tonali’s back for their big Champions League tie against Barcelona midweek, but with Riso’s comments making headlines, you can bet Howe isn’t thrilled.
When Riso was asked about Tonali moving to another club competing for titles like Arsenal or City, he didn’t hide his ambition. “Exactly,” he said. “That’s been the goal since he moved to England to make him a star player. I think he’s one of the most valuable Italian players in the world.”
Riso also talked about Tonali’s prospects at the upcoming World Cup, saying, “I don’t know, but it’s very likely. Everyone’s waiting for the World Cup; then a thousand scenarios will unfold, but everything starts after that.”
Digging into how Tonali ended up at Newcastle, Riso revealed Newcastle’s nearly limitless financial strength made the deal possible. The club picked up Tonali for about £52 million from Milan before news broke about his betting ban. Riso says he had no idea about that issue and adds, “We would have intervened otherwise.”
He thinks the transfer worked out well, though. Riso praised Newcastle and its supporters for welcoming Tonali, calling the response "incredible". He pointed out that Tonali got very different treatment in Italy, but Milan fans, he says, always protected him.
Now, Tonali’s future is anyone’s guess. talkSPORT reports Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Italian clubs are all keeping watch. Newcastle doesn’t have to sell; Tonali’s contract runs until 2029, with an option for another year, and they value him around £80-£100 million. But ideally, they want to hold on to him.
Tonali’s been central for Howe this season, racking up three goals and seven assists in 46 matches across all competitions. If anything does happen, it sounds like a long summer saga is brewing, and plenty of clubs will be ready if Newcastle decides to let him go.
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.
