Can Newcastle ace Tonali secure Champions League transfer to Arsenal or Man Utd this summer? | OneFootball

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali is one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market this summer.

The Newcastle maestro has been strongly linked with a big-money move to Arsenal or Manchester United, with both clubs looking to strengthen their midfield.

After the Magpies missed out on Champions League football, several players are expected to jump ship this summer.

Tonali, who joined Newcastle in a £55 million deal, is firmly at the top of that list. The Italian international isn’t short on potential suitors.

Arsenal have a longstanding interest in Tonali. They wanted to sign him in January but were priced out of a move by Newcastle, who had no interest in losing their prized asset.

However, the landscape has shifted since then. With Newcastle not playing in the Champions League, Tonali can now push for a move.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, they now have to compete with United in the race to sign Tonali.

Can Tonali get his big-money move?

Newcastle are renowned for being tough negotiators, especially when they hold all the cards. Tonali still has two years left on his contract, which makes things tricky for his suitors.

It could take a mammoth fee to persuade them to cut him loose this summer, and the Alexander Isak transfer saga is proof that handing in a transfer request wouldn’t necessarily smooth the path.

Tonali hasn’t categorically asked to leave Newcastle, but his desire to play regularly in the Champions League makes that eventuality a no-brainer.

The question is whether Arsenal or United will be willing to stump up the required fee to make it happen. On the bright side, they may have an ace up their sleeve.

Even with the backing of their oil-rich Saudi Arabian owners, Newcastle have had a problem of staying on the right side of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Knowing they now have to make do without the revenue from European football means they’ll need to cash in on some high-profile players to fund a much-needed squad overhaul.

Anthony Gordon looks the most likely to leave this summer, with Bayern Munich and Barcelona among clubs interested in signing him.

However, a big-money move for Gordon could impact Tonali’s chances of leaving, considering the Magpies wouldn’t want to rip apart the core of their team in one go.

It is unclear how the Tonali transfer saga plays out, but this isn’t Newcastle’s first rodeo, so it could take a truly compelling bid for them to sanction a summer exit.