Imminent £60m Newcastle United transfer set to spark outrage as medical stage reached

AC Milan’s owners could face protests from supporters as Newcastle United close in on signing Sandro Tonali.

After verbally agreeing a £60million transfer fee, Magpies head of recruitment Steve Nickson and Tonali’s agents Giuseppe Riso & Marianna Mecaccia flew to Romania to meet the player today (Friday).

Tonali is currently in Cluj-Napoca with Italy under-21s competing at the European Championships. The midfielder claimed an assist in his side’s Group D opener against France yesterday, which they narrowly lost 2-1.

The 23-year-old midfielder is expected to undergo his medical over the weekend ahead of becoming the Magpies’ first signing of the summer. Personal terms - a six-year contract worth £6.8m plus bonuses per season - are understood to have been agreed.

Tonali’s imminent arrival has brought excitement to Tyneside as head coach Eddie Howe aims to build an exciting squad capable of competing in the Champions League. However, the mood in Milan couldn’t be more different as locals prepare to bid farewell to one of their own.

The sale of a boyhood Milan fan and the recent sacking of club legend Paolo Maldini as technical director has outraged supporters. During the last 24 hours, #CardinaleOut - aimed at Milan owners Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital Partners, has been trending on Twitter.

Football Italia also reports “Selling Tonali to Newcastle just weeks later [after Maldini’s dismissal] could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and truly creates a rift between owners and fans, something no club wants to occur.”