Barcelona identify €45m-rated Newcastle United standout as captain’s heir | OneFootball

According to a report from Fichajes, Barcelona sporting director Deco has set his sights on Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali as the ideal replacement for Frenkie de Jong, should the Dutch midfielder’s future at the club remain unresolved.

The Italian is seen as a perfect fit for Hansi Flick’s evolving tactical system, a player with the balance, composure, and positional intelligence to anchor Barcelona’s midfield for years to come.

Meanwhile, De Jong, who remains under contract with Barça until 2026, has yet to make progress on a renewal, as his high salary and continued reluctance to restructure his deal have put the club in a difficult position.

In anticipation of a potential departure, Barcelona are preparing alternatives, and Tonali has emerged as the most complete profile available.

Barcelona’s sincere admiration

It must be noted that Tonali’s name has been on Barcelona’s radar since his early days at Brescia.

Right now, Deco sees his long-term value as too great to ignore. In fact, Barça believe Tonali, once available, could slot seamlessly into their midfield, offering both defensive assurance and creative distribution.

Barcelona are keeping an eye on Sandro Tonali. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

The club envisions a midfield core where Tonali and Pedri manage central duties, Marc Casado and Marc Bernal anchor the deeper positions, while Gavi, Dani Olmo, and Fermin Lopez rotate further up the pitch.

The financial trouble

For what it is worth, the financial aspect remains the primary obstacle. Tonali joined Newcastle in 2023 for a fee reportedly around €70 million, and the Premier League club is unlikely to entertain cut-price offers.

Barça know that any move would likely depend on De Jong’s exit, both in terms of funding and squad structure.

Should the Dutchman choose not to renew or seek a transfer, the Catalan club would free up crucial wage space and could redirect resources to bring in Tonali.

While no negotiations have begun for now, the Blaugrana are already working behind the scenes to assess the viability of such a deal.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on the date of publication.