Newcastle United have submitted an offer in the region of €50 million for AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali, reports The Athletic.
Eddie Howe is eyeing reinforcements on all fronts as Magpies gear up for Champions League football after 20 years.
Signing a top-quality midfielder is among the priorities, and Tonali has caught the attention of Newcastle, who finished fourth in the Premier League.
Tonali, 22, has enjoyed a steady rise to prominence at Milan, helping them win the Scudetto in the 2021/22 campaign and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League the following season before losing to arch-rivals Inter Milan.
Dubbed as the successor to legendary Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo, Tonali has also become a regular for the Italian national team, earning 14 caps.
Premier League giants Chelsea have also expressed their interest in Tonali, who will feature in the U21 European Championship starting today.
The west Londoners are in the market for midfield reinforcements following N’Golo Kante’s move to Saudi club Al-Ittihad and the looming departure of Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City.
Having missed out on top target Manuel Ugarte to Paris Saint-Germain, the Blues are now closing in on Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.
However, the chances of Tonali’s exit are low due to the lack of options in the midfield for Stefano Pioli.
Brahim Diaz has returned to Real Madrid, while Ismael Bennacer is currently sidelined with a long-term injury.
Tonali is the only reliable option available alongside Rade Krunic, so the sale of the Italian is unlikely.
Newcastle have also been linked with Celta Vigo sensation Gabri Veiga, who is also on the radar of Liverpool and Italian champions Napoli.
Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has also been followed by the Magpies for some time, but his future might lie in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr pushing for a move.
The Toon are also locked in a transfer battle with Tottenham Hotspur for Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.
Inter’s superstar midfielder Nicolo Barella has also emerged as a summer target for the Magpies, but it will take hefty figures to prise him away from San Siro.
