Tonali’s Newcastle career has finally hit the accelerator. After signing in the summer of 2023 for approximately £55m from AC Milan, the Italy midfielder was hit with a 10-month gambling ban that ended his maiden campaign after just eight Premier League appearances.
But after returning to action at the start of this season, he has quickly found fitness and form, delivering some superb displays in the heart of the Magpies’ midfield.
Tonali’s switch from a box-to-box No. 8 to a deeper-lying No. 6, which saw him become the anchor in Eddie Howe’s midfield three, was a catalyst for the team’s remarkable patch of form through December and January, in which the team won nine straight games.
His style is pure hustle and bustle; he offers great physicality, aggression and stamina, allowing him to assert his tone on a match, cover every blade of grass and enforce Howe’s high-energy, high-pressing tactics. He has also chipped in with a handy five goals in all competitions.
Newcastle would be loathe to break up their vaunted, hard-nosed midfield trio of Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães, but in the PSR era, you never know what clubs might be forced to do.
OTHER RUMORS
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What would Xabi Alonso need to change at Real Madrid?
Steve Nicol looks at the biggest challenges facing Xabi Alonso if he completes a move to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
– Chelsea want to sign AC Milan winger Rafael Leao and have opened talks over a possible €75m move. (Caught Offside)
– Chelsea and Manchester United have been tracking Barcelona’s promising winger Juan Hernandez Torres this season. Both clubs are considering whether to trigger a €6m buyout clause in the Spain U19’s contract this summer, as he turns 18 in July. (Sky Sports)
– Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz is set to snub Manchester City as the 22-year-old has has agreed to join Bayern Munich for €100m. (Bild)
– A move to LaLiga appeals to Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané if he leaves the club when his contract expires this summer. However, he is also reported to have received interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. (Sky Sport Deutschland)
– If Xabi Alonso moves to take over at Real Madrid, he wants to sign 20-year-old Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen. (TalkSPORT)
– Newcastle United and Manchester United are preparing to rival Arsenal for Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo this summer. (Football Insider)
– Real Madrid have asked for information about AC Milan left-back Theo Hernández, who is expected to leave San Siro at the end of the season. (Nicolo Schira)
– Arsenal have opened talks with William Saliba over a new contract amid reported interest in the defender from Real Madrid. (The Athletic)
– Liverpool have identified Athletic Club midfielder Mikel Jauregizar, 21, as a top target for the summer. (Anfield Watch)
– Advanced negotiations are underway between UAE Pro league side Al Ain and İstanbul Başakşehir over the transfer of Krzysztof Piatek. Al Ain have offered €8m for the Poland striker. (Footmercato)
– Paderborn manager Lukas Kwasniok is a top candidate for the vacant manager’s position at TSG Hoffenheim. (Sky Germany)
– Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradji is wanted by a host of European clubs, with Galatasaray, Fiorentina and Leicester City all interested in the 24-year-old. (Ekrem Konur)
– The position of AS Monaco head coach Adi Hütter is fragile heading into the club’s final few games of the season. (Footmercato)
– Brentford fear that they will lose goalkeeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen, with the German side in search of a new goalkeeper to compete with Lukas Hradecky and Matej Kovar. (Football Insider)
– Centre-back Jérémy Jacquet has made his mark since returning to Stade Rennais from his loan at Clermont Foot, and the 19-year-old France youth international has impressed enough for RB Leipzig to set their sights on him. (Footmercato)
