Tonali's Agent Touted Newcastle Star to Arsenal as Merino Injury Prompts Window Activity

The Tonali-to-Arsenal speculation that briefly gripped the rumour mill earlier this week has been firmly put to bed, with The Athletic's David Ornstein laying bare exactly what happened behind the scenes.

Newcastle's standout performer this season was indeed offered to the Gunners by his agent, prompting Arsenal to conduct preliminary checks. However, the reality proved far less dramatic than the headlines suggested: no contact was ever made with Newcastle United, and a move remains an impossibility in this window.

Ornstein's reporting clarifies that it was Tonali's camp who initiated the idea by approaching Andrea Berta at Arsenal. The 25-year-old was duly looked into as a potential target, but nothing more materialised. Newcastle's position has been unequivocal—the Italian international is not for sale.

The whole affair emerged in the wake of Mikel Merino's injury setback. Arsenal confirmed that the midfielder faces an extended spell on the sidelines, with hopes of returning to full training before the campaign concludes. The club's statement emphasised their commitment to supporting Merino's recovery.

Initial reports suggested Arsenal were actively exploring a deadline-day swoop for Tonali, with Newcastle supposedly demanding £100m. Ben Jacobs from CBS Sports subsequently revealed the lack of direct contact between the clubs, a claim Ornstein's account corroborates.

Mikel Arteta had previously acknowledged that the January window presented an opportunity for the club to address their injury concerns. "We are Arsenal and we have to be looking at it," he remarked in late December. "Our job is to always be very prepared because something can happen."

The manager highlighted how other clubs maintain squads of 24 or 25 players, noting that while Arsenal have suffered more injuries than anticipated, securing adequate availability across the squad remains paramount to their season's success.