Italy Under-21 captain Sandro Tonali is set to become Newcastle’s first major signing of the summer following an agreement with AC Milan worth up to £60m – including add-ons.
Tonali joined Milan, initially on loan, in 2020, and has since become one of the most highly-rated young midfielders in Europe. Just this past season, he helped the Rossoneri reach the last four of the Champions League in only their second year back in the competition.
The 23-year-old has agreed a six-year contract with the Magpies, while the final agreement over the exact transfer fee with Milan was hammered out this week when sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief scout Steve Nickson flew to Italy on Tuesday.
The only thing standing between Tonali and becoming a Newcastle player is the formality of a medical, which is due to take place in Romania, where Italy are based for the ongoing European Under-21 Championship.
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Tonali’s shirt number ever since he joined Milan three years ago has been 8, a classic midfield jersey. Prior to that, he had worn 4 at former club Brescia upon breaking into the first-team there.
Rising through the youth ranks at Brescia, Tonali’s shirt number history also includes 30, 34 and 10.
Since making his senior Italy debut as a teenager back in 2019, Tonali has also worn a variety of fairly typical central and defensive midfield numbers – 6, 8 and 4. The 13, 14 and 20 shirts have crept in occasionally, while right now at the Under-21 Euros he is wearing 8 again.
Straight off the bat, Newcastle’s number 8 shirt is already taken by January signing Anthony Gordon, meaning Tonali will have to look at another option unless the former Everton winger vacates it.
The following shirt numbers are currently not in use in Newcastle’s first-team:
15, 16, 20, 25, 27, 34, 35, 37 and 38.
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