Arsenal Circle Tonali as City's Backup Plan Emerges

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Sandro Tonali as a potential summer acquisition, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed, with the Newcastle midfielder also surfacing as a safety net for Manchester City should their Anderson negotiations fall through.

The Premier League champions enjoyed a stellar campaign under Mikel Arteta, finally ending their 22-year wait for the top-flight crown. Their Champions League adventure proved less fruitful, however, with a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last week's final—though the financial windfall from their continental run should bolster the summer kitty considerably.

Romano has outlined the Gunners' transfer blueprint for the coming months, indicating at least three new arrivals are on the agenda. A top-tier winger tops the shopping list, with a midfielder and right-back also firmly pencilled in. "Arsenal have already started working and planning for summer signings," Romano stated. "At least three signings are expected, could be even more based on exits. Top winger the priority; midfielder and right back also almost guaranteed. Strikers situation to follow."

City's midfield search has taken a knock after Nottingham Forest rebuffed their opening bid for Anderson, with the Midlands outfit demanding in excess of £100m. That setback has prompted the champions to eye Tonali as their Plan B, Romano revealed via X. "Manchester City remain in talks for Elliot Anderson after first bid rejected but Forest want more than 100m. Understand Sandro Tonali is emerging as strong option for Man City if Anderson deal can't get done. Arsenal are also keen on Tonali," the transfer specialist wrote.

Former Gunners defender Nacho Monreal believes securing Tonali would represent a coup of the highest order. "If Arsenal sign Tonali, obviously they will have the best midfield in the world," Monreal suggested. Yet he questioned whether such a move made practical sense given existing resources. "But they signed Zubimendi last year for a lot of money, so it is a difficult one. To have both Tonali, Zubimendi, and Rice would be a lot, so I can only imagine that they would have to sell either Zubimendi or Declan Rice if they really want Tonali. In my opinion, they already have the two best defensive midfielders in the world."

The Tonali chatter gained traction late in May, though Newcastle United correspondent Lee Ryder poured cold water on the speculation. Sources at both clubs played down the notion of concrete talks, Ryder reported, with the Magpies braced for a summer of tittle-tattle. "Less than 24 hours after the final whistle at Fulham and reports of talks between Arsenal and Sandro Tonali representatives. This has been played down by sources at Arsenal and Newcastle are already braced for a summer of rumours and gossip. No talks so far but Newcastle would only sell any player on 'our terms'. Arsenal's priority is also not a midfielder I'm told," Ryder wrote on X.

The suggestion that midfield is not top of Arsenal's agenda casts doubt on how aggressively they might pursue the Newcastle star, particularly with City also circling.