The Gunners have reportedly opened talks with Tonali’s representatives, but face competition from Manchester United and Liverpool.
Arsenal are considering a major midfield investment this summer, with Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali emerging as a top target.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners recently opened talks with Tonali’s agents regarding a potential move to the Emirates Stadium discussions that were reportedly initiated by the player himself.
However, Arsenal face stiff competition. Manchester United and Liverpool are also monitoring the 24-year-old, while Newcastle are believed to be demanding around £100m to sanction a sale.
Why Arteta wants Tonali
Mikel Arteta has already rebuilt Arsenal’s midfield with the signings of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, but he remains keen to add another high-level central midfielder.
Christian Nørgaard’s future appears uncertain, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is still viewed as a long-term project. That leaves room for a proven, elite-level operator and Tonali fits the profile perfectly.
Tonali as Arteta’s new Granit Xhaka
Tonali shares many traits with former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka: leadership, physicality, tactical intelligence and elite passing ability.
Xhaka was a combative presence during his time in north London, ranking second in Arsenal’s Premier League-era yellow card list with 56 cautions, behind only Patrick Vieira.
Tonali is similarly aggressive. During his final two seasons at AC Milan, he received 22 yellow cards, and he continues to play with a warrior-like intensity at Newcastle.
A statistical comparison
Both midfielders share remarkably similar profiles:
- Pass success rate: ~85%
- Tackles per 90 minutes:
- Xhaka: 1.5
- Tonali: 1.7
Where Tonali differs is in attacking output. While Xhaka averaged around 0.4 goals per 90 during his final Arsenal season, Tonali has averaged closer to 0.1 highlighting his deeper, more controlling role.
However, with Declan Rice already providing attacking thrust from midfield, Tonali would not be required to match Xhaka’s goal output.
A £100m decision for Arsenal
Tonali would represent a significant financial commitment, but his age, experience at elite level and leadership qualities make him a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix.
If Arsenal are serious about pushing for domestic and European honours, adding a player of Tonali’s calibre could be the final piece in Arteta’s midfield rebuild.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
