Newcastle United have compiled a shortlist of January midfield targets to fill in for the banned Sandro Tonali, as per Ben Jacobs.
The 23-year-old ace was dealt a 10-month ban by Italy’s football federation after he was found to have broken the country’s betting regulations. It came just three months after he had signed a £55 million deal from AC Milan to Newcastle, leaving Eddie Howe at a loss over his midfield depth.
A two-decade wait for Champions League action came to an end when the Magpies secured a fourth-placed finish last term, with them since picking up an emphatic 4-1 victory over European giants Paris Saint-Germain. However, with the increased fixture list and strain on the players, strengthening the squad is a non-negotiable in the winter.
As such, Newcastle have been heavily linked with former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Ruben Neves, and you’d think a deal could be easier to negotiate given that they’d be speaking with fellow Saudi-owned outfit Al-Hilal, though Jacobs states that the Portugal star is unlikely to make the switch mid-season having only joined the club last summer.
Magpies haven’t moved on from McTominay interest
Manchester City’s out-of-favour Kalvin Phillips is an option and on the red side of the city, Scott McTominay has long been admired by Howe and co.
“Newcastle also still like Scott McTominay, but know he’s now become more integral to Manchester United since their original interest dating back to last January,” Jacobs revealed exclusively to CaughtOffside.
With three goals and one assist to his name across 13 appearances, Ten Hag will be unwilling to part with the Carrington graduate anytime soon. A summer exit seems more feasible.
