Newcastle have no intention of selling Sandro Tonali but there are options available
Morten Hjulmand of Sporting Lisbon(Image: Getty Images)
Waking up to news that Sandro Tonali was linked with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal was not the way Newcastle United fans wanted to start transfer deadline day.
While the club and player were quick to play down any talk of a deal, with Eddie Howe quashing rumours the Italian was unsettled, it at least raised questions of how the Magpies could cope without their midfield star.
Newcastle have no intention of selling Tonali, nor is he pressing to leave, but the reality of the PSR pressures facing the club, mean an offer too goof to turn down could always arrive from one of Europe’s giants.
Like Alexander Isak last summer, United will be keen to act quickly to replace any star who departs, and have shown they are ready to reinvest in the playing squad.
With that in mind, here are three potential replacements they could turn should Tonali one day leave.
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Newcastle United latest via the Chronicle’s dedicated Facebook page
Morten Hjulmand
Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Morten Hjulmand helped Danish side Sporting CP clinch a top eight automatic spot in the Champions League last month. The 26-year-old Danish international signed for from Lecce in 2023 for €19.5m and has recorded 25 caps for Denmark since 2023.
His only goal for his nation came against England in the group stage of Euro 2024, scoring a screamer from 25 yards out.
In the Champions League, the 26-year-old has recorded 1.7 interceptions per 90 minutes. This compares favourably to Tonali, who has only produced 0.9 interceptions per 90.
The Dane’s age shows that he could easily be a ready-to-go replacement rather than a future project.
Elliot Anderson
Elliot Anderson(Image: Getty Images)
What an emotional reunion this would be. Despite Nottingham Forest’s struggles this season, Anderson remains a stand-out player in the Premier League and looks set to feature heavily for England in this summer’s World Cup.
United didn’t want to sell Anderson in 2024, but their hand was forced due to PSR pressures, and he has been regularly been linked with a return to his native Tyneside.
Anderson has so far recorded 2.7 tackles per 90 minutes this season, compared to Tonali’s 1.0, and looks set to leave Forest this summer with Man City, Man United and Arsenal said to be interested.
The Forest midfielder produced an impressive 2.5 tackles per 90 last season, compared to Tonali’s 1.4, and recorded 1.8 clearances per 90 in comparison to the Italian’s 0.8.
Adam Wharton
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton(Image: Getty Images)
Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is one of the rising stars of English football. Having joined from Blackburn Rovers for £18m, 21-year-old played a significant part in Palace’s successful season last year, in which they won the FA Cup and qualified for Europe.
Wharton recorded a higher number of interceptions (1.0), tackles (1.7) and clearances (1.4) per 90 minutes in the Premier League than Tonali last season and created a higher number of big chances.
Despite Palace also having a poor season in the Premier League so far, the young Englishman has managed an impressive average match rating of 7.12 and produced more than double the number of successful tackles per 90 (2.4) than Tonali (1.0).
Now an England international level, Wharton has proved he can do it at the highest level, and at the young age of 21 there is still so much more to come.
He has already attracted plenty of interest from Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Content cannot be displayed without consent