Newcastle United have just sent a big hint regarding Sandro Tonali’s future as Tottenham Hotspur step up their pursuit of the Italy international.
It has been widely reported that Tonali has already agreed to join Tottenham, but the Lilywhites are yet to reach an agreement with Newcastle for the player.
Spurs had a £80m bid for the Italy international turned down by the Magpies last week, but reports indicate that De Zerbi’s men are continuing to work on a deal for the 26-year-old.
It emerged on Friday that Tonali had informed Newcastle of his desire to move to Tottenham, and it appears that Eddie Howe’s men have been quick to react.
Newcastle eyeing potential replacement for Tottenham target Sandro Tonali
Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has now claimed that Newcastle are now considering a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who Howe is a huge fan of.
It is revealed that the German international has a £73.5m release clause, although the Magpies hope to sign him for less.
Downie wrote on X: “Newcastle are considering a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. Eddie Howe is a big fan of the German international, and came close to signing him in the summer of 2023 — but instead opted for Sandro Tonali.
“Nmecha has a €85m (£73.5m) buy-out in his Dortmund contract, which runs til 2030. Newcastle would be looking to pay less than that, given their model, so unless Dortmund renegotiate the clause, it would be a difficult deal to do. The 25-year-old’s first Dortmund goal was a winner against Newcastle in the Champions League in 2023.”
Nmecha’s profile suggests that Newcastle may have identified him as a potential replacement for Tonali. Given the huge cost of the operation for the Dortmund star, Newcastle may well be relying on funds from Tonali’s sale to secure the German.
Spurs’ move for Tonali can still be hijacked
Despite having worked on a deal for the 26-year-old for several weeks, Tottenham still run the risk of the move being hijacked by their rivals.
Over recent days, reports have indicated that Arsenal have made contact with Tonali’s representatives to evaluate a possible switch to the Emirates.
Additionally, reports indicate that Man City are also continuing to keep an eye on the Newcastle star’s situation.