Newcastle United may need to take a risk when it comes to holding fresh contract talks with Sandro Tonali.
At the end of the season, Tonali will only have two years left on the Newcastle United contract he signed back in 2023.
That leaves the club somewhat vulnerable. Alexander Isak, of course, had longer than that remaining on his deal but still eventually forced a move away from St James’ Park earlier this summer.
Tonali, at some point, will likely attract interest from elsewhere. The 25-year-old really is that good of a player and the Italian media consistently tout him for a return to Serie A.
Geordie Boot Boys understands Newcastle want to offer Tonali a new contract, although there is a complication with that.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty ImagesSandro Tonali contract talks need to be delayed
Indeed, according to The Daily Telegraph, those talks cannot take place until the club appoint a sporting director.
Nottingham Forest’s Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson is their leading target on that front but there’s yet to be any official movement on his appointment.
If and when Wilson arrives as expected, opening talks with Tonali will be his first priority.
The report adds that while there is no guarantee he would sign an extension, the player himself is very happy on Tyneside and has made no indication that he would like to leave.
Next summer could be bad news for Newcastle United over Sandro Tonali
Earlier this month, The Daily Telegraph also reported that the No.6 position is likely to dominate the transfer market next summer, as strikers did during the window just gone.
That, coupled with the fact that Tonali could only have two years left on his deal, looks like trouble for Newcastle.
It must be stressed that there’s no suggestion Tonali wants to leave, although that doesn’t necessarily mean that will remain the case if other clubs enter the fray.
The only thing Newcastle can do is appoint their sporting director and try to get his future nailed down as quickly as possible.