Sandro Tonali’s agent says star is ready to quit Newcastle after Arsenal ‘offer’

Sandro Tonali was reportedly offered to Arsenal in the closing stages of the January transfer window and now the midfielder’s agent has spoken openly about his client’s plans

Sandro Tonali could leave Newcastle in the summer transfer window because he wants to continue playing in the Champions League next season. The Italy international was unsettled in the January transfer window and was reportedly offered to Arsenal – and now his agent has spoken out on his future plans.

Tonali had reportedly been flagged to Arsenal’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, during the latter stages of the January window. The Gunners did not move for the 25-year-old midfielder, but his desire to explore his options has ruffled feathers on Tyneside.

Manager Eddie Howe was forced to address the possibility of Tonali having his head turned before the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City. But the sight of Tonali trudging out of the Etihad Stadium after their 5-1 defeat on aggregate didn’t help matters.

According to The Athletic, Tonali’s representatives contacted Berta to sound him out over a possible transfer. That eventuality didn’t become a reality but the £55million signing from AC Milan in 2023 is open to leaving in the summer, according to his agent Giuseppe Riso. Along with Arsenal, Manchester City, Juventus and Chelsea are all understood to be monitoring the situation.

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“Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League,” Riso told Tuttosport. “We’ll evaluate and decide what to do in the summer. These transfer discussions will take place later. We’ll see how the season ends and then we’ll decide what to do.”

He added: “There’s no preference at the moment. It’s still early. What we’re saying today won’t apply tomorrow. Newcastle couldn’t let him go now, and there’s no point in moving, especially since Sandro is very attached to the club.”

Alan Shearer has warned his former club that they could lose key players like Tonali, who is under contract until June 2028, in the summer if they don’t qualify for the Champions League. The Magpies face a two-legged play-off against Qarabag to reach the last 16 of the competition but are 11th in the Premier League, well off the qualification places.

“As far as I’m aware, we’ve got a player who is an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person,” Howe said earlier in the week when asked about Tonali. “He’s very happy here, he’s got a great relationship with me, his teammates, and seems really happy within himself.

“That would surprise me [if Tonali became unsettled], but our best players will always attract glances from other clubs – that’s just the reality of football.

“We want to keep our group together, we want to be progressive and Sandro plays a part in that. All encompassed, I don’t see an issue but I don’t control everything. There was certainly no intention from our side to lose Sandro at all. He’s such an integral player to what we’re doing. He’s very happy here.

“He is absolutely fine. I had discussions with him yesterday [Monday] and he is absolutely focused on playing for us. His only focus is Man City and trying to win that game. There’s absolutely no issue with Sandro himself and he’s committed.”

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