Fresh Sandro Tonali claims emerge – Italian media just won’t shut up about Newcastle United star
Charlie Bennett
3 – 4 minutes
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Juventus are reportedly considering offloading five players to fund a big-money move for Sandro Tonali.
Newcastle United supporters have become tired of Italian media linking the midfielder with a Serie A return. Tonali arrived as a £55million marquee signing and reports on the continent quickly stirred up trouble.
That speculation intensified after the 24-year-old was slapped with a 10-month ban for breaching betting regulations just 12 games into his Toon career. Any Newcastle fans fearing Tonali may not return the same player could not have been further from the truth.
Eddie Howe eased Tonali back into St James’ Park life before deploying him as a deep-lying midfielder. The tactical switch transformed Newcastle’s season, with a nine-game winning run propelling them into a Champions League race – not to mention the Carabao Cup triumph.
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However, his fine form for club and country only intensified reports in Italy. Tonali’s agent, Beppe Riso, was forced to respond in February that his client would not be returning to Serie A.
“He is one of the best midfielders in the world,” he said. “He has a price Italian clubs will hardly be able to pay. I imagine a career for him far away from Serie A.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport now claim Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is prepared to offload five players to raise funds for Tonali. The report claims Newcastle would demand between €65million and €70million – a laughable figure given what Toon chiefs paid.
Dusan Vlahovic and Douglas Luiz are two players named as possible makeweights to free up cash. Newcastle were linked with Vlahovic – whose contract expires next summer – in 2022 following the Saudi-backed takeover.
As for Luiz, he has failed to impress in Turin but retains Premier League stock from his time at Aston Villa. NewcastleWorld understands Tonali is not for sale – especially if the Magpies secure Champions League qualification.
Eddie Howe bullish on Sandro Tonali claims
Howe laughed off suggestions the Italian is unhappy on Tyneside at the back end of last year. The response came before Tonali’s transformation at the base of midfield and, arguably, into Newcastle’s player of the season.
“I’ve got no plans of losing Sandro,” Howe said in December. “I laugh because that (question) seems so out of the blue for me. Sandro is a vital part of what we’re doing and our investment in him was long-term.
“I’ve been really pleased with him personally and we’ve built up a strong relationship. He’s improving in all aspects of his play naturally through the games that he’s playing.
“The ban was difficult because he’s on training and he’s not learning from the games. The games are the biggest teacher and now he’s in a position where he’s getting both and we’re seeing an improvement in all aspects.”
