"We are not here to be popular and to get other teams to like us, we are here to compete and to compete, we have to give everything to try and get a positive result."
They were the words from Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe after frustrating Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal at the Emirates last season, earning a point where very few had at that stage in the season. It was a mantra that the Magpies carried through the rest of the campaign, reaching a Carabao Cup final and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
The Toon are well ahead of schedule, but their early approach into the summer market and impending arrival of Sandro Tonali is real statement of intent. Howe knows his side cannot dawdle and be happy with a top-four finish and early transfer approaches highlight the quality of player they need to improve the current squad.
Dubbed the next Pirlo given his flowing locks - Tonali is far from the next coming. In fact, he's something Newcastle United have not seen before, but is the perfect cog in the Magpies machine to lift them to another level.
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Not a defensive midfielder in the ilk of an N'Golo Kante, but a deep-lying playmaker with a keen eye for a trigger press. Tonali will be a marquee signing at St. James' Park this summer, but best operating in the half spaces, the Italian international would likely provide quality alongside Bruno Guimaraes, rather than free him up to play further forward.
Sean Longstaff has hit new heights under Howe in his most recent campaign, operating as the deepest midfielder at the club, but the arrival of Tonali gives the Magpies head coach the ability to switch to variations of a 4-3-3 next season. Tonali and Guimaraes have the ability to act as a double pivot, while allowing a number ten to operate further forward, or a flat midfield three - options are aplenty.
Marco-Football has Tonali down as one of the best creators in Europe's top-five leagues, with a 95 rating for offensive metrics and 74 defensive impact, with an overall rating of 90. That's not to suggest the 23-year-old can't defend - far from it.
Tonali has a solid return with progressive ball carries, a keen eye for a pass over long distance and pressing statistics of 0.10 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes which places him among Europe's elite. The midfielder has been compared to AC Milan legend Gennaro Gattuso, while his former coach has drawn comparisons to Italian cult hero Daniele de Rossi.
All signs point in a positive direction, but the approach for Tonali should not be viewed as a knock on following from a reported rejected bid for Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella. The Magpies are understood to have been interested in a move for Tonali's fellow countryman, but the Champions League finalists have a much higher asking price.
Barella and Tonali are two different players entirely, with the Nerazzurri star man more of an attack minded midfielder. Barella plays a midfield mezzala role - for those of you who aren't au fait with the term from Football Manager, a midfielder who operates in the wide areas of central midfield, linking up with wingers and full-backs while also having an eye for goal.
The Inter Milan midfielder played 52 times last season, scoring nine goals and notching ten assists, while Tonali played 48 times, scoring twice and also registered 10 assists. The difference in attacking output is clear, but also highlights where Newcastle can and should still look to improve.
A move for Tonali should not impact their plans to bring in a more attack minded midfielder with James Maddison and Dominik Szoboszlai linked with a move to St. James' Park - two players of a similar ilk to Barella. The door remains very much open for Newcastle to add a player of that Maddison mould to the squad this summer.
