Newcastle United want to discuss a new contract with midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to The Telegraph.
He has been a crucial cog in the engine room for the Magpies, forming a solid partnership with Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes.
Tonali has started all five league games for Newcastle this term, plus the Champions League clash with Barcelona at St James’ Park.
He has now played 63 games for the club, bagging seven goals and three assists.
The Italian international has two years left on the contract he signed when he joined Newcastle three years ago from AC Milan.
There is a desire to discuss a new deal as soon as possible, although talks will have to wait until a new sporting director arrives in the next few weeks.
Manager Eddie Howe has described Tonali as ‘multi-talented‘, and he is desperate to keep him at the club.
Guimaraes started his career as a defensive midfielder but has evolved into a box-to-box machine.
Tonali, who can operate as a six, is also better in a more advanced position.
Who should Newcastle sign for the number six position?
Newcastle need a holding midfielder and should be keeping tabs on Lille ace Ayyoub Bouaddi.
He played 695 minutes across 18 appearances in the 2023/24 campaign, then almost trebled that to 1,863 minutes across 36 appearances last season.
Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi were the only players born in 2007 or later to accumulate more in the top five leagues.
Bouaddi has a bright future and all the tools to be one of the best midfielders around.
His clean passing, elusive dribbling and stretchy tackling would be massive assets for Newcastle.
Stats from Transfermarkt.
