Newcastle United have drawn a firm line in the sand over Sandro Tonali’s future, warning interested clubs that it would take an offer in excess of £100 million before they would even consider selling the Italian midfielder.
The stance comes amid growing interest in the 26-year-old, with Tottenham Hotspur emerging as the latest club to monitor the situation.
Despite increasing speculation surrounding Tonali’s future, Newcastle remain determined to keep one of their most important players and have no plans to enter negotiations unless a nine-figure bid arrives.
That position has been adopted even though reports suggest Tonali’s representatives have informed the club that the Italy international is interested in exploring a move away from St James’ Park.
A return to Serie A is believed to be Tonali’s preferred option should he leave Newcastle.
Former club AC Milan are among the teams closely watching developments. The Rossoneri, who are on the verge of appointing Ruben Amorim as head coach and Markus Krosche as sporting director, continue to admire the midfielder they sold to Newcastle in 2023.
There is also believed to be scope for Milan to structure a potential deal due to financial agreements linked to previous transfers involving Tonali and defender Malick Thiaw.
However, it remains unclear whether Milan’s incoming hierarchy will prioritise a move for the Italian international, opening the door for other suitors.
Inter Milan and Juventus have also shown interest but face significant financial obstacles in meeting Newcastle’s valuation.
As a result, a move within the Premier League currently appears to be the most realistic outcome if Tonali departs this summer.
Manchester United have assessed the possibility of signing the midfielder but are understood to have cooled their interest due to the size of Newcastle’s asking price.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea have all discussed Tonali internally and continue to monitor his situation, while Tottenham have now entered the race.
Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly a huge admirer of his fellow Italian and would welcome the opportunity to bring him to north London.
There is also a growing belief among those close to the player that, if he remains in England, London could become his most likely destination.
Nevertheless, Newcastle remain unmoved.
The club’s hierarchy are determined not to repeat mistakes from previous transfer windows and have adopted a much firmer approach to protecting their key assets.
Sporting director Ross Wilson has reportedly played a central role in shaping that strategy, ensuring Newcastle establish clear positions regarding players they consider indispensable.
The same approach extends beyond Tonali.
Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento and Nick Woltemade have all attracted interest from elsewhere, yet Newcastle’s message has remained consistent: players deemed essential to the project are not for sale.
For now, clubs across England and Europe may continue to explore the possibility of signing Tonali, but Newcastle’s position could hardly be clearer.
Any team hoping to lure the midfielder away from Tyneside will need to produce a bid comfortably above £100 million before the Magpies are prepared to open discussions.
While Newcastle are refusing to budge on Tonali, goalkeeper Nick Pope is one player they are willing to sell this summer, with several Premier League clubs already monitoring his situation.
