Sandro Tonali's agent has dropped a hint on the next stage of his client's transfer to Newcastle United after a round of important talks in Milan with Dan Ashworth.
Tonali's agent Guiseppe Riso, along with Newcastle's sporting director Dan Ashworth and Toon head of recruitment Steve Nickson have departed from talks in Italy and are heading to Romania where Tonali is currently based for the Under-21 European Championships. It is in eastern Europe where Newcastle hope to complete the deal, with a medical and the usual formalities involved.
Newcastle have agreed terms with Tonali and the midfielder will double his wages on Tyneside. A six-year deal is believed to be on the table for the 23-year-old. There have been some suggestions in Italy that Newcastle have agreed on a fee for the midfielder, but nothing has been confirmed at the Newcastle end at this stage.
The whirlwind deal is moving quickly and Newcastle officials have been proactive in getting the transfer done knowing that Chelsea were also keen on one of Serie A's hottest properties. It will be all eyes on Italy U21s against France tonight in their opening match of the European Championships with Tonali expected to feature.
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The talks took place in a plush five star hotel in Milan named Palazzo Parigi but as Tonali's agent walked past reporters he simply said: "We're leaving". And his representatives, along with Ashworth and Nickson, were thought to be with them.
Newcastle are equipped to hold a medical in Romania as they have with numerous fast moving deals like this one.
