Newcastle look to loan market for Sandro Tonali replacement

Newcastle United are set to look at initial loan to cover for the suspended Sandro Tonali due to ongoing concerns over Financial Fair Play, 90min understands.

Newcastle again invested heavily in the summer, spending nearly £150m on new players. But their final signing was Lewis Hall from Chelsea, who joined on an initial loan before a permanent transfer in 2024 because the club felt they had such little wiggle room in their FFP calculations.

90min has been told that Newcastle are currently looking at an FFP deficit of around £40m going into 2024 and although it doesn’t stop them spending in January, it could have an impact on business.

Going into winter, 90min understands that Newcastle have areas of the squad they want to invest in. But the need to bring in cover for the now suspended Tonali, ironically their most expensive summer signing, is prompting them into a possible re-think. The Italian midfielder will not be available until August after being banned for ten months for his part in an illegal betting scandal back home.

It is understood a central defender, another forward and a ‘number 10’ are among the positions being considered by Newcastle. But a new deep-lying midfielder is now top of their transfer wish-list.

Sources have confirmed to 90min that they are already working on options for a Tonali replacement. One of those, as 90min revealed earlier this month, is Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips. His camp have fielded enquiries from a number of clubs, with City making it clear that he is not in their long-term plans less than 18 months after his £45m transfer. Newcastle are one of those who are keen, with Phillips potentially available on loan to make him particularly attractive to the Magpies.

Phillips aside, Newcastle also have a list of other options left over from summer. That included the likes of Manchester United’s Scott McTominay, although 90min has been informed that the Scottish star is on no hurry to leave Old Trafford. Even if he was, a possible price tag close to £40m is not something that Newcastle would consider.

However, another avenue the club is actively considering is an overseas loan, possibly via the Saudi Pro League. Newcastle’s majority owners are the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and links between the North East club and others within their portfolio was always something they hoped to utilise. The suspension to Tonali just means it could happen sooner than expected.

PIF also own controlling stakes in the four biggest Saudi clubs: Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli, investing heavily in the quartet. Between them, they now boast some of the biggest names in world football. They also have some big name midfielders who, in theory, could comfortably replace Tonali.

Ex-Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves – now at Al Hilal – is a player Newcastle looked at before he left England and bringing him back to the Premier League could emerge as an option. Aside from Neves, there is also another former Toon target in the shape of Spanish youngster Gabri Veiga at Al Ahli.

There are numerous other candidates who could possibly come in such as former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante, Sergej Milinlkovic-Savic, Marcelo Brozovic and Otavio – but Newcastle now have a couple of months to focus and work on their preferred options for the January window.