Sandro Tonali ‘agrees personal terms’ with Newcastle United as Dan Ashworth lands in Milan

Newcastle United are closing in on the signing of AC Milan midfielder Sandro Tonali with Dan Ashworth currently in Italy finalising a deal.

Negotiations for the 23-year-old progressed rapidly on Wednesday. In an ‘exclusive’ photo published by Italian website Milan News, Giuseppe Riso - Tonali’s agent - was spotted having lunch with Milan managing director Giorgio Furlani and his right-hand man Geoffrey Moncada.

The Magpies are to set pay £60million plus add-ons for Tonali with talks continuing today over the structure of the deal. It’s claimed by Italian insider Gianluca Di Marzio that Tonali has already agreed personal terms on a six-year contract worth £6.8m plus £1.7m bonuses per season - which would make him the club’s highest-paid player.

Tonali has not been present whilst face-to-face have taken place. The midfielder is captaining Italy at the under-21s European Championships, held in Georgia and Romania. They face France tonight (kick-off 7:45pm) in their Group D opener.

Once a fee is agreed, it’s possible Tonali could undergo his medical at Italy’s base in Romania, or he could be given permission to temporarily leave the camp to complete those relevant tests on Tyneside.

Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe identified the player as his top target to fulfill the No.6 position after discussions with Inter Milan over Nicolo Barella stalled.

Tonali, a boyhood AC Milan fan, has made 130 appearances since joining from Brescia in 2020, where he helped them to their first Scudetto in 11 years and last season reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2007.