Tonali in Liverpool's Sights: Slot's Reds Eye Newcastle Midfield Star for Summer Swoop

Liverpool are weighing up a move for Newcastle's Sandro Tonali, with the Italian midfielder potentially open to the prospect of a switch to Anfield this summer, fresh reports suggest.

Arne Slot's outfit splashed over £400m during last summer's transfer window, with the Merseyside club's board backing their manager after his maiden Premier League title. Yet despite recruiting Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, Liverpool find themselves fourth and 14 points adrift of Arsenal in their title defence.

The Reds had prioritised bolstering their attacking ranks and rearguard over the close season, having already addressed midfield requirements the year prior. Fichajes, however, claims Liverpool are now plotting an "offensive" for Tonali come summer, with the Newcastle man identified as their principal target.

Newcastle's Italian star is being closely tracked by the Reds, who view him as a potential strategic departure from St James' Park. Tonali, the report suggests, "could be tempted by a record-breaking offer in the domestic market," with Liverpool having maintained lines of communication with his representatives dating back to his Brescia days.

The sticking point? Newcastle hold all the cards. Tonali remains contracted until mid-2028, and the Magpies have made clear they will not entertain anything below £100 million—a valuation befitting his standing in the game.

Yet transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has poured cold water on immediate speculation, ruling out a January exit and flagging Juventus as a genuine threat come summer. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano stated: "Tonali will not leave Newcastle in January. Forget about that, it is impossible."

The Italian transfer specialist revealed Juventus view Tonali as their "dream signing" for summer 2026, having already made behind-the-scenes overtures in 2025 that went nowhere. "For 2026, Juventus will be there again," Romano explained.

However, Romano also acknowledged that top Premier League sides are expected to circle. "People close to the player expect top Premier League clubs to arrive and show interest in the summer. It is going to be an interesting window," he noted.

Newcastle, though, will call the shots. Romano drew parallels with their handling of the Alexander Isak negotiations last summer, suggesting the Magpies will prove equally stubborn. "Everything depends on Newcastle. They will control the situation and they will control the price. We saw last summer how tough they were in negotiations with Liverpool for Alexander Isak. It will not be easy, but Juventus and top Premier League clubs will be there because Tonali is one of the best midfielders around," he added.

Tonali himself has previously sidestepped questions about his long-term future. Speaking in November, the midfielder struck a measured tone: "This is a tough question because, you know, in football you need to think year for year. I don't want to say I want to stay here 10 years and in two years, three years, four years or five years I will go."

He acknowledged that tempting offers can change circumstances. "If you have an option for your life, for another team you need to think about everything," Tonali said, though he stressed: "Now I'm happy here. I don't think anything about another team."