Arsenal Front-Runners for Tonali If Midfielder Quits Newcastle This Summer

The Gunners have positioned themselves as Newcastle's Sandro Tonali's most probable Premier League landing spot should the midfielder seek a move this summer, according to transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio.

Tonali was at the centre of deadline-day speculation during January's winter window when Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg suggested Arsenal were pursuing a deal. Those claims were subsequently attributed to agent activity, with the Italian ultimately staying put at St James' Park while the north Londoners completed no fresh signings.

Arsenal's genuine admiration for the 24-year-old has since been confirmed—particularly notable given their current seven-point lead atop the Premier League table—though the club recognised the impracticality of orchestrating such a substantial transfer so late in the January window.

Yet Di Marzio believes the picture has shifted considerably for the off-season. Speaking to AceOdds.com, the Italian journalist outlined why Arsenal represent Tonali's most probable English option: "Arsenal is the most likely destination for Tonali in the Premier League, but they are really interested in him. I am not sure if he wants to stay in the Premier League, because he might want to go back to Italy. I think he misses Italy, but the Premier League is the top league, so he still has to decide what he wants to do."

Financial and sporting circumstances could prove decisive. Juventus harbour serious interest, yet Di Marzio questioned whether the Turin outfit can muster the necessary resources: "It also depends on who can afford him, because it will be difficult for Juventus to pay the price, and they have to qualify for the Champions League, otherwise they don't have the money to buy him."

Tonali's own inclinations lean heavily Italian. Di Marzio suggested the midfielder harbours genuine affection for his homeland and Serie A: "But he really likes Serie A and I think he wants to play in Serie A again. He also had a child, so even if he stays in the Premier League, it might not be more than two or three years. I also think he wants to show the Italian fans how good he is, probably being the best Italian midfielder."

The Newcastle exit question carries complications beyond Tonali alone. Bruno Guimaraes, his Magpies teammate, has similarly attracted suitors across Europe and domestically. Crucially, the Tyneside club will permit only one departure.

Di Marzio confirmed this constraint shapes the entire calculus: "For Bruno Guimaraes, his future very much is linked to Sandro Tonali, because I don't think Newcastle will let both of them go in the summer. If Tonali will leave, Guimaraes will stay and vice versa."

The journalist nevertheless expects Tonali to be the one departing, given the breadth of elite European interest: "I think that Tonali is likely to leave Newcastle, because a lot of top European clubs want him. Juventus really wants him and he is the number one player on their list."

Arsenal's January restraint stemmed from pragmatism rather than lack of desire. Di Marzio noted: "Arsenal really wants him as well, but they didn't really try to sign him in January, because it was simply impossible. There was no possibility that he could leave Newcastle in January."

Come summer, expect the Gunners to return with renewed vigour, though the asking price will prove substantial. "But I think Arsenal will come back. The price will be very high and as I said, only one of Tonali and Guimaraes will leave, so they can't both leave the club," Di Marzio concluded.