Arsenal had a great summer transfer window. But relatively, they were having a quiet January window. So, the Gunners were not expected to make big moves on deadline day, either.
However, something happened that changed the entire scenario. Mikel Merino suffered an injury against Manchester United, which will rule him out for months.
So, suddenly, the Gunners were in crisis mode. They wanted to find a replacement. And, they set their eyes on Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.
The Newcastle United midfielder became a potential late option for the Gunners, following concerns over midfield depth.
However, no deal materialised before the 7 pm deadline, and the rumours were quickly shut down. Nevertheless, the story has not gone away.
Reports on Monday morning suggested Arsenal had at least explored the possibility of a move.
Sky Germany claimed discussions had taken place internally over a potential approach, although nothing advanced far enough to become concrete.
Newcastle swiftly dismissed the reports, branding them “complete rubbish,” while Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, later confirmed that no talks had taken place.
That, however, may not be the end of the story. According to The Sun, Mikel Arteta remains a huge admirer of the Italy international.
So, as Transfer News Live reported earlier, the Gunners could revisit the idea of signing Sanro Tonali in the summer transfer window.
The Sun claimed that the Arsenal manager would love to pair Tonali with Declan Rice in the heart of midfield. Such a move would raise questions about Martin Zubimendi’s role.
Moreover, Arsenal would not be alone in the race. Manchester City and Chelsea continue to monitor Tonali’s situation closely.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55 million in July 2023 and signed a five-year contract. Later that year, he agreed to a contract extension until 2029, with an option through to 2030.
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