Tonali has been linked with a deadline day move away from Newcastle United
11:11, 02 Feb 2026Updated 11:24, 02 Feb 2026
Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Noah Sadiki of Sunderland
Newcastle United have laughed off any suggestion that Sandro Tonali could leave the club on transfer deadline day after the Italy international was linked with a move to Arsenal.
A report from Sky in Germany claimed the Gunners were exploring an eleventh hour move for the 25-year-old, claiming Newcastle rejected an initial approach.
However, club sources have said there has been no approach for Tonali and any reports of a deadline day bid are ‘not true’.
Tonali signed a contract extension that means he is under contract until the summer of 2029, with Newcastle holding an option to extend that deal by another year.
However, interest from the Premier League leaders should focus minds inside St James’ Park to ensure they are protected in case that interest is revisited in the summer.
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Eddie Howe will not want Tonali to leave and, in an ideal world, sporting director Ross Wilson will be able to negotiate a new contract on improved terms for one of the club’s best players.
But Newcastle would be foolish not to have robust plans in place to sign potential alternatives and protect themselves in case the worst case scenario plays out, and Tonali does eventually leave the club.
With that in mind, using DataMB’s player similarity generator tool to bring up players with similar characteristics to Tonali, one very interesting alternative has emerged in the top five players most like the 25-year-old.
Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki is the player with the most similar traits to Tonali and that would obviously be a move that would be very controversial given the huge rivalry between the two clubs.
Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali is tackled by Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki(Image: 2025 CameraSport)
The DR Congo international is an international team-mate of Yoane Wissa, of course, and has been a revelation for the Black Cats so far this term since his £15m move from Belgian champions Union SG in the summer.
Meanwhile, Bologna’s Scotland international midfielder Lewis Ferguson was also among the top five players similar to Tonali. So, too, was Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari.
Arsenal midfielder Martin Zubimendi was also among the players it brought up, which would suggest Tonali fits the profile of the type of midfielder the Gunners would try and sign.
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