Shay Given says he hopes to see Sandro Tonali ignore interest from Arsenal and Manchester United by committing his future to Newcastle, comparing the ‘special’ midfielder to Italian icon Andrea Pirlo.
Tonali is enjoying his third – and arguably his best – season at St James’ Park under Eddie Howe, pulling the strings at the base of a midfield three alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
The trio are widely considered to be among the most complete midfield combinations in the Premier League, but there is mounting speculation that they could get broken up at the end of the campaign.
Arsenal explored a possible move for Tonali towards the end of January following an injury to Mikel Merino and are expected to revive their interest in the 25-year-old in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United are also believed to be keeping tabs on Tonali’s situation, adding the Italy international to their sizeable shortlist of midfield targets, which also includes the likes of Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba.
Further afield, Juventus are known to be long-term admirers of Tonali’s talents, with the player’s agent refusing to rule out the possibility that his client could return to Serie A for next season.
In response, Newcastle have reportedly slapped an eye-watering £100million price tag on their prized possession.
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Considering Tonali’s undoubted quality, Given is not surprised to see the midfielder attracting the attentions of many of the most high-profile clubs in European football.
However, the former Newcastle goalkeeper is hoping Tonali is able to shut out the incessant ‘noise’ as he is a player the Magpies could look to ‘build the team around’ in the long-term.
‘He really stepped up with his two goals at Villa Park at the weekend. Look, he’s a special player, he’s a really talented player,’ Given said on TNT Sports ahead of Newcastle’s Champions League win over Qarabag on Wednesday.
‘There has been a lot of talk from his agent in the last couple of weeks, a lot of noise around him as well about is he there for the long-term.
‘I hope he is [there for the long-term] because, I might say a big statement here, but he reminds me of Pirlo. He makes things look simple.’
According to Given, Tonali has proven he has more to his game that sets him apart from other, more conventional, holding midfielders.
‘He’s a holding midfielder, he always seems to have time on the ball, he’s always scanning, he’s always just comfortable,’ the ex-Republic of Ireland shot-stopper added.
‘He has to break things up as a number six, he does that well. But he does the other side of it as he showed the other day at Aston Villa.
‘He always seems to be relaxed, calm, and he reads the game ever so well, so he does all that side of it.’
Given continued: ‘The fans have taken to him, they love him up at Newcastle.
‘You could build your team around someone like Sandro.’
In the wake of the rumours linking him with Arsenal, Tonali appeared to reaffirm his commitment to Newcastle with an animated goal celebration in the side’s FA Cup win over Aston Villa at the weekend.
Tonali, who scored twice in a 3-1 victory at Villa Park, later explained: ‘The first one, this celebration was, I think, seven months without scoring; if you don’t score for seven months, after the first goal, you celebrate for 10 or 11 goals – like Bruno [Guimaraes]!
‘But after the second goal, I came to Eddie [Howe] because in the past few weeks, people spoke about our relationship, but I work every day with the gaffer, the gaffer works every day with me, and our relationship is perfect. It’s not broken and I think this is perfect for the team.
‘We try to do the best for this team, every game, because we play a lot of games – every three days, we play, and we have to be concentrated every time in the training ground to do the best for our team.’
Tonali has made 96 appearances in all competitions across his three-year spell with Newcastle and played a key role last term as Howe’s men lifted the Carabao Cup.
A ten-month ban – after Tonali was found to have breached Italian betting regulations – meant the midfielder played just eight league games in the debut season at St James’ Park.
Tonali’s current contract with the Toon runs through to June 2028, with the option of a further 12 months.
In a recent interview with Tuttosport, Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso insisted the Italy international was yet to make a decision regarding his future beyond the end of the season.
Asked whether a return to Italy could be on the cards for Tonali this summer, Riso replied: ‘There’s no preference right now.
‘It’s still early. What we’re saying today won’t apply tomorrow.
‘Newcastle couldn’t part with him now and it wasn’t worth moving, especially since Sandro is very attached to the club.
‘We’ll evaluate things in the summer and decide what to do.’
Riso added: ‘Newcastle is having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club into the Champions League,’
‘These transfer discussions will take place later.’
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