- Arsenal make calls over Sandro Tonali transfer
- Newcastle United could think outside box
- Magpies and Gunners swap deal on the cards?
Newcastle United are braced for transfer interest in midfield linchpin Sandro Tonali from Premier League rivals Arsenal this summer. The Magpies should make that work for them, and pursue a head-turning swap deal.
Tonali is believed to have attracted interest from several Champions League sides this summer after comments made by his agent, advertising the midfielder for a potential transfer move.
In February, Tonali’s agent Giuseppe Riso told Tuttosport: “Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League.
“These transfer discussions will take place later. We’ll see how the season ends and then we’ll decide what to do.”
The Magpies are believed to be open to cashing in on the Italy international, with a staggering £100 million fee touted.
Newcastle United should pursue Arsenal swap deal
That would be a huge investment from Arsenal, even with the maximum prize money bagged for winning the Premier League. A swap deal could, perhaps, be perfect for both teams.
Newcastle are in the market for a new left winger following the sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona. While the Magpies are known to be prioritising younger recruits – see 20-year-old Ewen Jaouen – the burden of nearly 3,000 minutes and 22 goal contributions offered by Gordon last season cannot be placed on a rising star.
Gabriel Martinelli is a player who could certainly do a job on Tyneside. Since scoring 15 Premier League goals over the 2022/23 season, the Brazilian has failed to hit those highs. The 24-year-old managed just one goal in 30 Premier League outings last season.
Mikel Arteta afforded Martinelli the full 90 minutes on just two occasions in the league last season, the second time coming on the final day of the campaign with the league already won.
However, this is not a player past his prime. The forward is still just 24 years old and proved his talent in the Champions League, with six goals in 14 outings, including strikes against Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
Martinelli has slipped down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium and is in need of a new lease of life. At Newcastle, he could once again feel like the main man and rediscover his flair.
Gabriel Martinelli could enjoy rebirth at St James’ Park
While Arteta struggled to find minutes for the players, his words last season speak of a winger full of drive. The Arsenal boss said: “I adore Gabriel: his attitude, his commitment, his positivity, what he’s willing to do for the team.
“I was sure that Gabby was going to react like that. He has such a mentality. He’s constantly willing to learn, very demanding with himself and hopefully that gives him the confidence again because he is an outstanding player.”
Football.London claim that Arsenal are willing to let the player leave this summer with Bayern Munich one of the clubs linked, having missed out on their swoop for Gordon.
Should the Gunners truly want Tonali, then Newcastle could use their Italian midfielder as a bargaining piece to bring Martinelli to the North East.
In other news, ‘Enquiry Made’: Arsenal move on £100m Newcastle United transfer as Man Utd ‘go cold’.
