Arsenal’s stance in the January transfer window suddenly changed when the severity of Mikel Merino’s injury was realised.
It’s a terrible time for Merino, who could miss the World Cup due to a broken bone in his foot.
The Arsenal midfielder confirmed his injury on social media, putting pressure on Andrea Berta to seek replacements for the Spaniard.
After the injury was confirmed, the news that few expected came, as Arsenal could enter the January transfer market to bolster the squad, but time is running out as it’s deadline day.
The deadline is at 7pm, and Berta isn’t wasting any time, with Sandro Tonali now linked to Arsenal from Newcastle United.
Sandro Tonali to Arsenal on deadline day – yes or no?
Sandro Tonali has an Arsenal shirt amid transfer deadline day links
Sky Sports broke the news, revealing that Arsenal have been in talks for ‘two hours’.
The deal won’t be easy to negotiate as Newcastle value the Italian very highly, but that hasn’t changed Arsenal’s eagerness to pursue deadline day contact.
Interestingly, Tonali already has admirers within the Arsenal squad, which is why the midfielder already has an Arsenal shirt in his possession.
Speaking to Sky Italia in 2025, Riccardo Calafiori revealed that he swapped shirts with Tonali at St James’ Park.
“I think I’ve only played against him [Tonali] once for a few minutes this season because I was not available in the other games,” Calafiori said.
“It was enough to swap shirts. I still haven’t heard from him, but I hope we’ll also meet later with the national team.”
Berta is pushing to make Calafiori and Tonali domestic teammates as well as international ones, in what could be an astounding surprise on deadline day.
Tonali has already spoken very openly about his future
Signing a key player from a Premier League rival on deadline day is as complicated as it sounds, but perhaps not in this case.
Not only is Berta a countryman of Tonali, which would presumably make negotiations smoother, but the 25-year-old is also not wholly committed to Newcastle.
What is the maximum fee Arsenal should pay to sign Sandro Tonali?
In November, the BBC relayed quotes on Tonali’s future, when the player ruled out staying at St James’ Park for the long run.
“I don’t want to say, ‘Yes, I want to stay here 10 years’, but now I’m happy here. I don’t think anything about another team.”
There was no other team then, but now there is, which makes Tonali’s unknown stance on links to Arsenal all the more fascinating.
It would be a remarkable deal for Berta to get over the line, and a real show of intent from the Gunners.
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