‘Leaked’ Dan Ashworth & Steve Nickson photos emerge as Newcastle United agree £60m deal

Dan Ashworth and Steve Nickson have been in Italy to finalise a transfer for AC Milan star Sandro Tonali. Newcastle United have reached an agreement with the Serie A club to sign their key midfielder for £60million plus add-ons.

Negotiations got underway just over 24 hours ago, and United sporting director Ashworth and head of recruitment Nickson have been pictured by Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio after ironing out the structure of the deal.

Tonali is understood to have agreed personal terms on a six-year contract worth £6.8m plus £1.7m bonuses per season - which would make him Newcastle’s highest earner. The transfer is now in the process of being finalised.

Tonali is currently in Romania with Italy’s under-21s for the European Championships but Newcastle officials are expected to fly over to conduct the first part of the player’s medical.

Indeed, Newcastle did the same in January 2022 when Nickson travelled to Brazil to complete the £40m signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Lyon.

Guimaraes underwent medical tests and put pen to paper on a five-year contract before being unveiled to the media on Tyneside after returning from international duty.