Newcastle United FC, an English club, has reached an agreement with AC Milan, an Italian club, to sign 23-year-old central midfielder Sandro Tonali. Tonali, who won the Serie A with Milan in 2022 and became one of their skippers, had aspirations of playing for AC Milan, which his father supports, and becoming a legendary figure like Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi. A £60m deal has been finalized, and Tonali will undergo medical examinations in Romania, where the Italian national team camped for the European Under-21 Championships, before finalizing his contract with Newcastle. Known as a deep-lying playmaker, Tonali's arrival would allow Bruno Guimaraes to assume a more box-to-box role. The Athletic reported that Tonali was Eddie Howe's primary midfield target. His signing would mark Newcastle's first major acquisition of the summer, as the club aims to bring in four additional players. Tonali initially joined AC Milan on a season-long loan from Brescia in 2020/21 before signing permanently. During his time with Milan, he played a crucial role in their Serie A title win and made 130 appearances, scoring seven goals. Additionally, Tonali has 14 caps for the Italian national team and featured in their Euro 2024 qualifier against England. Newcastle is also pursuing a right-sided central defender, a full-back, a wide forward, and a number 10, with James Maddison being a potential target. The club had a successful season, finishing fourth in the Premier League, securing a European campaign, and reaching the League Cup final, although they were defeated by Manchester United. The club's quest for a major trophy continues after a 54-year drought.
