How will Sandro Tonali fit into Eddie Howe's Newcastle team? Midfielder joins for record fee

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Newcastle United kicked off their transfer window on Monday, when the Premier League club announced the signing of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali. According to reports, the Italian talent makes the move to the English top-flight for an initial fee of €70 million plus add ons, after signing a five-year deal with his new club. As such, the 23-year-old midfielder joins Newcastle as their joint most expensive signing ever, currently level with Alexander Isak on €70m. But may move about the Swedish striker if or when the add ons are included. 

It seems unlikely that Tonali will be Newcastle’s only addition to Eddie Howe’s squad this summer, with the English side linked with a number of top-tier talents. However, for now, fans of the club will be delighted to see an impressive young talent make the move to their club and most likely be inserted straight into the club’s starting XI. So what type of player is Tonali and what can fans of the club expect from their new record signing? 

What type of player is Sandro Tonali?

Having originally come through at youth level in Brescia’s academy, Tonali made his debut in Serie A in 2019/20, where he established himself as a talented deep-lying playmaker and technically gifted box-to-box midfielder. And for much of his career to date, that is exactly where the young Italy international has thrived first for Brescia and then Milan. Which should come as good news for Newcastle fans ahead of the new season. 

Indeed, while Tonali undoubtedly has the ability to defend in the centre of the pitch and break up opposing attacks - only five Serie A central midfielders won more tackles than the Newcastle signing last season - he perhaps sticks out for his ability to pull the strings at the base of a midfield and create goals. Tonali’s seven assists in Serie A last season was the third best return for all central midfielders in the division last season and the 23-year-old talent also came in fourth when it came to key passes and through balls. 

Market Value

S. Tonali Defensive Midfield

€40.00m

In other words, while Tonali can undoubtedly provide stability and defensive solidity in Howe’s midfield, he will most likely be primarily tasked with offering creativity in the middle of the pitch. And when we consider that Newcastle’s best playmaker in midfield for last season was Joe Willock with just six assists in 35 games, it certainly explains why the club were so keen on signing the AC Milan star in the first place.