The future of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will be subject to formal transfer discussions this summer, according to his agent, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the Italian international’s tenure at St. James’ Park following a January window rife with speculation linking him to Arsenal.
Giuseppe Riso, Tonali’s representative, confirmed in an interview with Italian outlet Tuttosport that talks regarding the player’s future are planned once the season concludes. “Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League,” Riso stated.
“These transfer discussions will take place later. We’ll see how the season ends and then we’ll decide what to do”.
These comments follow intense deadline day reports which claimed Tonali had been offered to league leaders Arsenal. Riso publicly denied making contact with the Gunners, labeling the stories “nonsense,” but the ambiguity of his latest statements has done little to quell the rumors of a potential summer exit.
When questioned about potential destinations, Riso offered no clarity, saying, “There’s no preference at the moment. It’s still early. What we’re saying today won’t apply tomorrow”. He further noted that the player is “very attached to the club” but that all parties will “evaluate and decide what to do in the summer”.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe moved quickly to address the situation, confirming he had spoken directly with Tonali and emphasizing the player’s commitment to the club’s immediate objectives.
“I think he’s such an integral player to what we’re doing. I think he’s very happy here,” Howe said. “He’s absolutely focused on the here, the now… His only focus… was Manchester City and trying to win that game. So, there’s absolutely no issue with Sandro himself, and he’s very happy and he’s committed”.
The backdrop to this saga is a challenging season for Newcastle, who currently sit 11th in the Premier League and face an uphill battle to secure Champions League qualification for a second consecutive year.
This context is seen as pivotal. Riso himself highlighted the importance of Champions League football, and club legend Alan Shearer recently predicted that the club’s top talents, including Tonali, could attract serious interest if European football is not secured.
“If Newcastle aren’t going to qualify for Europe… you’d expect other clubs will look at Newcastle and try to buy their best players,” Shearer said.
The 25-year-old Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023 for a fee exceeding €60 million, has re-established himself as a key figure in Eddie Howe’s midfield after serving a 10-month ban for gambling offenses.
This season, he has made 36 appearances across all competitions. With his contract running until 2028 and the club holding an option for a further year, Newcastle are under no financial pressure to sell and are believed to value the midfielder in excess of £100 million.