Newcastle want to discuss a new deal with Sandro Tonali | OneFootball

Newcastle United want to discuss a new contract with midfielder Sandro Tonali as the Geordies look to keep the influential star at St James’ Park, according to The Telegraph.

The Newcastle ace has been a crucial cog in the engine room for the Magpies, forming a solid partnership with Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes.

Tonali has started all five league games for Newcastle this term, plus the Champions League clash with Barcelona in Tyneside.

He has now played 63 games for the club, bagging seven goals and three assists.

However, the Italian international (27 caps) has two years left on the contract he signed when he joined Newcastle three years ago from AC Milan.

Per the report, ‘there is a desire to discuss a new deal as soon as possible, although talks will have to wait until a new sporting director arrives in the next few weeks.’

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is clearly a fan of Tonali, the Englishman said (via Geordie Boot Boys),  “He’s multi-talented”.

“He’s everything that I hoped he would be and more,” he added.

Keeping Tonali will be high on the agenda for whoever takes the reins as sporting director.

Said transfer chief will also be looking to bring in another number six for Newcastle next summer.

Guimaraes started his career as a defensive midfielder but has evolved into a box-to-box machine. Tonali, who can operate as a six, is also better in a more advanced position.

Who should Newcastle sign for the number six position?

Newcastle need a holding midfielder and should be keeping tabs on Lille ace Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Still 17, the young, tall, athletic starlet is one of the most promising gems in Ligue 1.

He played 695 minutes across 18 appearances in the 2023/24 campaign, then almost trebled that to 1,863 minutes across 36 appearances last season.

Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi were the only players born in 2007 or later to accumulate more in the top five leagues.

Bouaddi has a bright future and all the tools to be one of the best midfielders around. His clean passing, elusive dribbling and stretchy tackling would be massive assets for Howe.