The Italian midfielder is ready to grasp his chance at Newcastle and wants to step into the shoes of departed stars like Jamaal Lascelles
Casemiro has identified Guimaraes as his replacement, with Tonali also a target(Image: JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sandro Tonali has dropped a big hint on his future at Newcastle United – by insisting he is already making plans for next season at St James’ Park.
The Italian has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United in the last week, but has signalled his intent to continue with the Magpies. Tonali is contracted until 2029, plus he has the option of a further year, which Newcastle chiefs are comfortable with.
An enhanced deal is also a possibility for the ex-AC Milan star but the Italy international is focused on life in the Toon dressing room for now. So much so that he has requested to be part of the player leadership group in the 2026/27
This has gone down well behind the scenes and has been deemed as a move that hardly lends itself to an unsettled player.
When asked if he’d like to take the spot left behind by Jamaal Lascelles ahead of next season, Tonali told beIN SPORTS “Yeah, of course. We are a bit different because Jamaal was a great leader, he spoke every week, every game to our team, to every player.
“He was great with everybody, and alone in the private meetings and really was a bit different to me.
“It would be a little bit tough because it’s not my first language, but I will try. I try to do my best. I try to help every player in the pitch. And I think this is should be for every player, not just for me.”
Tonali has also spoken of how the leadership group helped him in his first difficult year after he was suspended for nine months following a FIFA ban for illegal betting while playing in Italy for AC Milan.
As a young player arriving in a new country, it was something the Italian really appreciated and helped him develop bonds with a number of major players.
Tonali said: “I think we have six or seven players in the leadership group, they all really helped me, especially the first year, three years ago, for me it was very difficult.
“Especially, Jacob Murphy, Callum Wilson, Jamaal, Bruno and Joelinton as well. Every day, they helped me a lot in that the first the first season. And they help every player now in in our team.”
Find the best flights and hotels for Champions League games
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Various Prices
Booking.com
Booking.com provides countless deals on flights and accommodation across Europe so Newcastle United fans can follow the team on their Champions League campaign.
Here at ChronicleLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Newcastle United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest NUFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.
And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Everything is Black and White podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.