Eddie Howe Assures Sandro Tonali’s Commitment to Newcastle United

Sandro Tonali has made 92 appearances for Newcastle United.

Manager Eddie Howe has stated that Sandro Tonali is “very happy” at Newcastle United, following rumors linking the midfielder to a potential move to Arsenal.

On deadline day, reports surfaced suggesting that Arsenal, currently leading the Premier League, was considering a move for Tonali. However, Newcastle firmly declared that the midfielder was not for sale and that there had been no contact regarding his transfer.

Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, refuted any discussions with Arsenal. In an interview with Sky Italia, he mentioned that negotiations regarding the player’s valuation would be revisited in March or April, contingent on Newcastle’s openness to such discussions.

Howe conveyed that he spoke with Tonali recently and emphasized that the Italian player is “absolutely focused on the here and now and playing for us,” particularly in light of the upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City.

“His only focus is on the match against Manchester City and striving to secure a victory, so there are absolutely no issues with Sandro himself,” Howe remarked. “He is very happy and committed, making it hard for me to comment on matters I lack detailed knowledge about.”

In November, Tonali expressed his contentment at Newcastle but acknowledged the challenges of considering long-term plans. He signed a five-year contract upon joining Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023.

During a period of personal difficulty concerning a betting ban, which sidelined him for 10 months, Tonali was eager to repay Newcastle’s faith in him and subsequently signed a new one-year deal. Newcastle retains an option to extend his contract by an additional 12 months, securing the club’s position.

Despite losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, Howe believes the club is now better equipped to manage such challenges, particularly with the recent appointment of sporting director Ross Wilson.

“Our top players will always attract interest from other clubs; that is simply the nature of football,” Howe added. “We aim to maintain the cohesion of our team and continue our progress, and Sandro is instrumental in achieving his best performance to aid the team’s success. Overall, I do not foresee any issues, although I cannot control everything.”