Newcastle United have had a disappointing season across all competitions, with the chances of securing European football now out of their hands.
The Magpies comfortably qualified for Champions League football last season, but it is looking more and more likely that they will miss out on European football altogether as the Premier League campaign draws to a close next weekend.
There has been a mixed reaction from supporters over what the best approach for next season should be, but the fact of the matter is that the ambitious project has stagnated and standards have dropped over the last 12 months.
Eddie Howe is expected to remain in charge next season and will work with new sporting director Ross Wilson to find solutions to their issues when the transfer window opens next month.
Last summer had Newcastle in the headlines for all the wrong reasons with the controversial situation involving Liverpool and Alexander Isak, which ultimately ended with the Swedish striker being sold on Deadline Day for £125m.
Reports have consistently linked Anthony Gordon with Bayern Munich, and it was claimed this week that he had reached personal terms with the Bundesliga champions.
However, there could be another key player that the club are prepared to part ways with.
According to Football Insider, Newcastle United have slapped an £80m price tag on midfielder Sandro Tonali.
The publication claims that Arsenal are one of the Premier League clubs monitoring his availability ahead of the transfer window, while Manchester United are also interested.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, Pete O’Rourke revealed:
“(Newcastle will) be looking for £80 million plus for Sandro Tonali, maybe even more, looking at some of the other midfielders that have moved in the Premier League in recent seasons.
“They might have to sell a couple of their big stars just to help allow Eddie Howe to spend in the summer window, and Tonali, no doubt, will be a player of huge interest to a number of clubs.
“There’s been talk of interest from Arsenal, and we all know that there is going to be interest from clubs in his native Italy as well, but they will struggle to afford to sign him right now.”
Will Newcastle sell Sandro Tonali?
There is no doubt that Newcastle will be keen to avoid another transfer battle involving their Premier League rivals and key players following the Isak saga.
Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup, meaning Tonali will be available to discuss his future with the club and his representatives without distraction during the early stages of the summer break.
As a result, the Magpies must quickly establish whether the sale of Tonali would be necessary to support their reinvestment and recruitment plans, and whether the player is committed to helping Newcastle build upon their recent success.
The 26-year-old – once hailed a “genius” by BBC Sport pundit and former Lionesses star Ellen White – is an incredible asset to the Tyneside giants and has been instrumental during some of their most important moments over the last two seasons.
Tonali represents a valuable and attractive asset to several Premier League clubs, as midfield rebuilds are likely to be high on the agenda for many sides in the top flight this summer, with Manchester United, in particular, keen to future-proof their midfield set-up.
With Newcastle facing a pivotal summer both on and off the pitch, the decision surrounding Tonali could become one of the defining moments of Eddie Howe’s rebuild.
The Italian midfielder possesses the quality, mentality and experience to become a cornerstone of the club’s long-term ambitions, but Newcastle must now weigh that against the financial opportunities his sale could create.
Whether the Magpies choose to cash in or keep faith in one of their most talented players, the outcome will reveal a great deal about the direction of the project ahead of next season.
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