Arsenal offered chance to sign €74m star this summer

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Arsenal were reportedly offered the chance to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali last week, but a summer move to the Emirates Stadium currently seems unlikely.

The Italy international has been on Arsenal’s transfer radar for several months, as reported by FootballTransfers, with Mikel Arteta’s side eager to bolster their midfield ranks before the start of next season, despite Myles Lewis-Skelly’s recent emergence in the middle of the park.

However, a deal for Tonali is currently unlikely to be finalised, due to his wage demands of £250,000 per week and the fact his agent would be owed a 10% cut of the transfer fee. That is according to Chronicle Live, who report that Tonali’s agency GR Sports offered his services to Arsenal last week.

The former AC Milan midfielder, who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €74 million, remains on Arsenal’s list of possible summer signings and it has been confirmed that they are exploring a move for both Tonali and club team-mate Bruno Guimaraes.

However, the latter appears to be Arsenal’s preferred target and they are advancing in talks with Newcastle over a deal, with an opening bid understood to have been rejected by Eddie Howe’s side, who have no interest in entertaining a sale.

Tonali, meanwhile, could also leave St James’ Park this summer and Tottenham Hotspur have already finalised personal terms with the midfielder ahead of a big-money transfer. As a result, Arsenal will be required to hijack Tonali’s proposed move to Spurs in order to secure his signature and that seems unlikely as things stand.

Sandro Tonali unlikely to join Arsenal

Tonali looks set to join Spurs if Roberto De Zerbi’s side are able to reach a transfer fee agreement with Newcastle and this could inadvertently scupper Arsenal’s pursuit of Guimaraes.

Newcastle have already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for €80m this summer and if Tonali departs too, they may not be required to sell Guimaraes too, with funds having been raised elsewhere.

This could force Arsenal to pay over-the-odds to land the Brazil international, or end the potential of the deal entirely.

While Guimaraes is currently Arsenal’s top midfield target, they also admire Lille starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has starred for Morocco so far at the World Cup, and rumours suggest that Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is also well thought of by the Gunners’ transfer chiefs.