Arsenal & Real Madrid queue for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali

Arsenal were linked with a late January transfer move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, but the reported move failed to materialise.

Tonali was linked with a move away from St. James’ Park, with the league leaders favourites to sign the Italian midfielder.

According to a report from Fichajes, LaLiga giants and 15-time Champions League winners, Real Madrid have also joined the race, and are reportedly monitoring his situation.

The midfielder is reportedly valued at €90 million, and it will be interesting to see which of the two top clubs will sign him, in the next transfer window.

Madrid desperately needs a reliable defensive midfielder, and the Italian would be a perfect fit. He’s already proven his quality in the Premier League and has the quality to succeed in La Liga too.

Both the Gunners and Los Blancos could be exciting destinations for the player. He has won the English League Cup with Newcastle, but he will now want to win major trophies and experience playing alongside top-quality players.

Sandro Tonali is happy at Newcastle United and signed a deal until 2029 (Image: Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old secretly signed a contract extension with Newcastle until 2029, with a further 12 months during his ban for illegal betting; the Italian’s previous contract was due to expire in the summer of 2023.

Newcastle are unlikely to offer the platform he needs to elevate his game and career to the very top. The Magpies are not yet at the level required to challenge for league titles or the Champions League, whereas Madrid or Arsenal could provide exactly that stage.

The Italian international is an indispensable asset for Newcastle, and his departure would be a huge blow for them.

However, they cannot realistically retain top talent if they fail to compete for major trophies consistently. They will ultimately have to accept the player’s departure, and €90 million will be enough to find a suitable replacement if he leaves.