City’s chances of securing a deal for Tonali have been fuelled by reports of a gentleman’s agreement that would allow him to leave St. James’ Park in the wake of the Magpies failing to secure Champions League football on Tyneside. Alongside their interest in Tonali, City remain keen on his Newcastle team-mate Tino Livramento as part of a wider recruitment drive.
To facilitate these ambitious moves, City are prepared to offer Newcastle a selection of players. According to reports, the players the Magpies are most interested in are England goalkeeper James Trafford, full-backs Rico Lewis and Issa Kabore, and centre-back Juma Bah. With City planning significant changes and Newcastle under pressure over the Tonali situation, potential swap deals are highly likely.