Newcastle United are hopeful that Sandro Tonali will agree the bumper wage deal they have offered him to leave his boyhood team AC Milan.
As reported yesterday on Chronicle Live, talks cranked up throughout Wednesday as Newcastle officials held high level talks with their Milan counterparts. The two clubs were looking to agree a final transfer fee for Tonali after the initial suggestion of £50million was knocked back earlier this week.
Tonali's agent Giuseppe Riso has been at the centre of the talks with Milan and Newcastle with his client about to see his wages increase by more than double his £75,000 per week wages. Tonali has not be present for any face to face talks due to his involvement with Italy Under-21s at the European Championships in Georgia and Romania.
READ MORE: From Gateshead to New Jersey - your guide to Magpies' pre-season
But his international commitments are likely to affect the transfer, although it remains to be seen whether he features for Italy in their Group D opener with France tonight. Newcastle were keen to get a deal done sooner rather than later with Chelsea also lurking in the background.
The move would nudge Eddie Howe's dream of having "two XIs" a little closer with the head coach knowing he will need strength in depth for the Champions League. And while much has been made this summer about freeing up Bruno Guimaraes to get further up the pitch, Howe also wants the option to play deeper in matches.
Last year he hinted about playing two deep-lying midfielders at times and knows Bruno could even form a partnership with a player of Tonali's quality. Howe said last year: "Bruno can play in any position in midfield, as an 8, a 6 or a double 6."
But Howe would have a plethora of options in his engine room if the deal is completed with Sean Longstaff, Bruno, Joe Willock, Joelinton and the Italian star available to him. The talk in Milan late last night was that the European giants had already identified a replacement for Tonali.
Davide Frattesi of Sassuolo - who is also courting interest from Juventus and Milan's rivals Inter - fits the bill for Stefano Pioli. Notably, Frattesi is represented by Tonali's agent Riso who could conduct two deals in quick succession.
