Representatives of Newcastle United transfer target land in UK as £6m contract offer revealed

The representatives of Sandro Tonali have landed in the United Kingdom - less than 12 hours after Newcastle United’s bid for the AC Milan midfielder was made public.

Sports Italia, the same publication that broke the Tonali news before The Athletic confirmed the Magpies’ £42million offer, claims the 23-year-old’s entourage landed in London on Wednesday morning.

Sources close to the Italian outlet have played down speculation of their visit being Tonali-related. Instead, the official line is “other meetings”.

However, Sports Italia insists contract negotiations between Tonali and Newcastle are taking place, with the Premier League club reportedly willing to hand the Italian a deal worth £6m-a-year.

The Magpies turned their attention to Tonali after an approach for Inter Milan star Nicolo Barella stalled. The Champions League finalists want £80m for the midfielder, £30m more than what United are currently willing to pay.

Tonali is viewed in a similar bracket to Barella, with the former Brescia man an out-and-out No.6. His arrival would free up Bruno Guimaraes to play further forward.

Tonali, who will captain Italy at this month’s under-21 European Championship, has made 130 appearances for Milan in 2020. He helped the club lift their first Serie A title in 11 years in 2021-22.

Last season, Tonali featured 48 times in all competitions, where Milan finished fourth in league table and reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2007.

Eddie Howe hopes Tonali is one of two midfield signings this summer with Leicester City’s James Maddison top of the list.