Transfer deadline day is over, and it was an unexpectedly chaotic one for Arsenal.
The Gunners were eager to react to Mikel Merino’s serious foot injury by signing a new player in the January transfer window.
Despite Mikel Arteta’s desire to sign a new midfielder, time ran out, as the news of Merino’s injury broke just before deadline day.
While no player was signed, deadline day didn’t come without excitement, as early in the day, it was announced that Arsenal were interested in Sandro Tonali.
David Ornstein said that Tonali’s agent offered him to Arsenal, but the player’s representatives later denied that; however, that’s far from the end of the saga.
You pick: Arsenal’s best midfield trio if Tonali signed would be _________ + _________ + _________
Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal could sign Sandro Tonali in a summer transfer
Tonali’s agent shot down the links to Arsenal, but noted that there will be an evaluation closer to the summer to see ‘whether Newcastle are open to anything’.
The door was closed, but not completely, as there’s a chance that the Gunners could revisit the Italy international in the summer transfer window.
Fabrizio Romano spoke about the idea to DAZN Football, stating that while a deadline day move was always considered ‘impossible’, a deal later down the line isn’t as difficult to envision.
“It’s impossible to sign Sandro Tonali in January – imagine trying to do it in the last 24 hours,” Romano said.
“It’s something that can’t happen, I don’t think even on PlayStation, because signing a player of Tonali’s level in 24 hours is absolutely impossible.”
Throwing things forward to the summer, the renowned transfer expert urged fans of several clubs, including Arsenal, to ‘watch out for Tonali’.
“Then, if you ask me about Tonali, I’ll answer: watch out for Tonali in the summer, because in the summer there will be interest from Juventus, there will be interest from very big Premier League teams – Arsenal could be one of them too.
“I think there will be a lot of movement around Tonali in the summer. We’ll see what Newcastle decide, but January was always going to be impossible.”
What was deemed impossible could become possible in the summer if Andrea Berta plays his cards right.
Sandro Tonali’s price tag is questionable
Berta and Arteta clearly see what Tonali could offer to Arsenal, but the Gunners must consider how much the Italian would cost.
Newcastle want a minimum of £80m for Tonali, which would use a significant chunk of Arsenal’s transfer budget on a position that doesn’t need a lot of work in comparison to other areas.
What is the maximum fee Arsenal should pay to sign Sandro Tonali?
For example, Arsenal have been crying out for a top-class winger for years, a player who would cost a huge amount to sign, but a player whose role would be essential.
Comparing that to Tonali, who arguably wouldn’t be a starter for Arsenal, makes his price tag unjustifiable at this moment.
It will be fascinating to see what unfolds in the summer and what the Gunners’ stance on the midfielder will be.
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