Sandro Tonali was mocked up in a Newcastle United shirt on the front page of La Gazzetta dello Sport with AC Milan observers resigned to him leaving Italy.
On a remarkable, whirlwind day of transfer activity 23-year-old Tonali watched on from the Italy Under-21 training camp in Romania as things played out. Newcastle sporting director Dan Ashworth was spotted in Milan as the midfielder was told of an offer of personal terms in principle.
Milan have briefed journalists that Tonali said "yes" to the deal but it now depends on whether the Serie A giants can agree a price of around £70million with Newcastle. If they can it will tick the box of "marquee signing" which Eddie Howe hinted of in his final pre-game press conference of the season.
