Newcastle United have held dialogue with representatives of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali via an intermediary.
Tonali has been looked at as a solution to bolster Newcastle's midfield options in the number 6 role as Eddie Howe looks to get Bruno Guimaraes further up the pitch next season. Multiple reports in Italy last night claimed that there had been a £50million bid from Newcastle but Toon sources did not stand that up with the only indication that there is an interest in the player.
Tonali is on duty with Italy Under-21s soon in the European Championships in Georgia and Romania. It remains to be seen whether at 23 he wants to quit Milan with the midfielder a boyhood fan of the club and looking to play in the Champions League next season.
Although, he could expect a bump up in wages with the anchor man earning below £100,000 per week with AC Milan. It was only last autumn that Tonali signed a deal until 2027 at the San Siro.
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The former Brescia star signed in 2020 and is a regular for Milan with Tonali making 95 appearances for the club in Serie A. He is a no-nonsense battler who picked up 13 yellow cards last season in the Italian top-flight.
Eddie Howe is eager to get a signing through the door ahead of pre-season training in early July. Milan did have an interest in Allan Saint-Maximin last January but Milan's transfer plans have changed after Paolo Maldini was sacked recently as transfer chief.