One of the shocks of Arsenal’s deadline day was Sandro Tonali being linked with a transfer.
Arsenal had a quiet January transfer window, until the morning of deadline day, when it was revealed that the Gunners had looked at Tonali.
Newcastle shot down the Tonali rumours, which was to be expected, given the midfielder’s importance to Eddie Howe’s squad.
While the Italian remained in the North East, there’s a feeling that his future at St James’ Park isn’t secure, giving Arsenal an incentive to carry interest into the summer.
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You pick: Arsenal’s best midfield trio if Tonali signed would be _________ + _________ + _________
Sandro Tonali has already hinted at Newcastle transfer exit
Tonali is a highly-rated Premier League player, so it’s no surprise that Arsenal are eager to sign the Newcastle star.
Because of how good he is, there’s always been some anxiety at Newcastle regarding how long Tonali will be their player.
In November, it inspired a reporter to ask the midfielder directly, “Do you see your future here long term?”
“This is a tough question because you know the football is you can think you need to think year for year because I think I don’t want to say I want to stay here 10 years and in two years three years four years five years I will go,” Tonali responded, via Hayters.
What is the maximum fee Arsenal should pay to sign Sandro Tonali?
In that moment, the midfielder made it subtly clear that his contract, which expires in 2028, is unlikely to be renewed.
It perhaps wasn’t the response that Newcastle fans would’ve wanted to hear after Alexander Isak’s shock change of heart, which is what Tonali later referenced.
“I want to think just for me, year for year because this is football and every summer, you know the last summer was tough for us, for Alex, but this is football if you have an option for your life for for another team you need to think about everything in football and I don’t I don’t want to say ‘yes I want to stay here 10 years’ but now I’m happy here.”
Just as things were with Isak, there’s a feeling that Tonali is on borrowed time at St James’ Park, but will Arsenal take advantage?
Arsenal need to move away from Sandro Tonali interest
Signing a player of Tonali’s calibre would never be a bad thing, but financially, questions need to be asked.
Newcastle have set their valuation for Tonali at around the £80m mark, which is extortionate for a player who, for all his quality, wouldn’t necessarily be a starter at Arsenal.
Prove me wrong: Signing Sandro Tonali for £80m when Martin Zubimendi is at Arsenal makes no sense.
Arsenal spent £51m on Martin Zubimendi in the summer and haven’t looked back, as the Spaniard’s numbers speak for themselves.
Zubimendi averages more duel wins than Tonali in the Premier League and has a far greater output when it comes to goals.
If Tonali were cheaper, acquiring his signature would be a no-brainer, but given his price tag, thoughts need to be had.
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