Arsenal have officially entered the race for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirming the Gunners have made direct contact in recent days.
The Premier League champions are moving quickly after their title win, looking to reinforce their squad ahead of what promises to be a demanding domestic and European campaign.
Manager Mikel Arteta is focused on constructing a midfield capable of sustaining dominance in England while mounting a serious challenge in the Champions League next season.
The 26-year-old Italian international has emerged as a high-profile target, attracting interest from several of the biggest clubs in the Premier League this summer.
Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, provided a detailed update on Tonali’s situation, clarifying the positions of multiple clubs currently circling the Newcastle star.
Manchester United had previously been strongly linked with Tonali, but Romano explained the Red Devils have gone “cold” on the deal given the enormous financial commitment required to complete a transfer.
United have instead opted to finalise a move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson Silva, effectively stepping aside in the race for the Newcastle engine.
Romano stated: “On Sandro Tonali, the appreciation remains, but my understanding is that he is not particularly close to a move to Manchester United right now. The overall cost — both the transfer fee and salary — is considered too high at this stage, so United are cold on the deal as of today.”
He further added: “Beyond those two clubs, Arsenal have made calls over recent days regarding Tonali, putting them in the mix as well. More clubs could yet join the race, so the situation around Sandro Tonali may become very interesting.”
Manchester City are also keeping a close eye on Tonali, though Romano noted their primary focus currently remains on securing Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.
Newcastle are expected to hold firm and demand a fee upwards of £100 million for their prized midfield asset, making this one of the most expensive potential deals of the window.
Arsenal’s interest makes considerable sense given how a player of Tonali’s profile would complement what Arteta has already built at the Emirates Stadium this season.
His capacity to control tempo, disrupt opposition attacks, and drive play forward under pressure would significantly ease the workload on Declan Rice in the heart of midfield.
Landing Tonali would send a clear message to European rivals that Arsenal intend to compete at the very highest level following their long-awaited Premier League title triumph.
With the transfer window continuing to gather momentum, Tonali’s future looks set to become one of the most closely tracked transfer sagas of the entire summer.
