Sandro Tonali appears to face a somewhat uncertain future at Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window.
17:32, 16 Jun 2026Updated 17:32, 16 Jun 2026
Riccardo Calafiori may have helped Arsenal in their efforts to sign Sandro Tonali(Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Riccardo Calafiori could give Arsenal the edge over Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. The Magpies star has recently been linked with a move to north London as Mikel Arteta and Roberto De Zerbi both look to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
According to The Athletic, the Lilywhites are in positive talks with Tonali’s entourage over a potential move this summer. The report claims that Spurs are yet to contact Newcastle, but they’re expected to do so if they believe they can agree personal terms with the Italy international.
It’s said that Tottenham are prepared to ‘push hard for a statement signing’, but they face strong competition from Arsenal and Manchester. That said, however, the Lilywhites are reportedly ‘most advanced’ in the race for Tonali’s signature.
If the Gunners wanted to level the playing field, or even leapfrog Spurs, Andrea Berta could lean on Calafiori to work his magic. The Arsenal defender appears to have a good relationship with his fellow countryman, having previously shared the pitch on the international stage.
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Calafiori and Tonali first appeared together for Italy Under-21s in September 2021, when they defeated Luxembourg in the group stage of UEFA European Championship qualifying. Then, nearly three years to the day, they shared the pitch for the senior outfit, helping Luciano Spalletti’s side beat France in the group stage of UEFA Nations League A.
The duo have featured together for Italy a further eight times since, chalking up 11 appearances, winning eight, drawing one and losing the remaining two. Calafiori and Tonali have known each other for years, and the Arsenal defender could be key to stifling any potential bid from Tottenham this summer.
At the end of the season before last, he commented on his relationship with Tonali. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia in May 2025, ahead of the Gunners’ clash against Newcastle, Calafiori revealed that he swapped shirts with the midfielder when they met at St. James’ Park for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Tonali led the Magpies to victory before defeating Liverpool in the final at Wembley Stadium a month or so later. The Arsenal defender said: “I think I’ve only played against him once for a few minutes this season because I was not available in the other games.
“It was enough to swap shirts. I still haven’t heard from him, but I hope we’ll also meet later with the national team.”
Sandro Tonali and Riccardo Calafiori on international duty with the Italian national team
Although Calafiori and Tonali may be close, the Newcastle star has previously all-but-ruled out a move away from Tyneside. Speaking to Sky Sports in April, he said: “In football, if you play well, you have to deal with the transfer rumours, but if you concentrate 100 per cent on your game, and you’re happy, you don’t have to think about anything or speak about anything.”
A couple of weeks earlier, his agent fanned the flames in an interview with Italian outlet Calcio & Finanza. When asked about his move to St James’ Park, Giuseppe Riso said: “The deal came about because a club like Newcastle with unlimited financial resources had decided to invest in Sandro.
“We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league.”
On a potential move to Arsenal or Manchester City, Riso said: “Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he went to England – to try to make him a star player. I think he’s the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world.”
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