Newcastle United have warned clubs looking to sign Sandro Tonali this summer that players will only be sold if bids are too big to refuse.
Several Newcastle players have been linked with moves at the end of the season, with Manchester United and Manchester City both tracking Tonali, while the likes of Anthony Gordon, Tino Livramento and captain Bruno Guimarães are also attracting interest from richer rivals.
When asked about player sales, Hopkinson admitted the club will have to be open for business as they look to improve player trading to comply with new financial rules. But he also noted that Newcastle demanded a British record fee of £128m from Liverpool for Alexander Isak last year and will expect similar-sized offers to sell any of their blue-chip players this summer.
“We haven’t got an overall strategy with regards [moving] players out,” said Hopkinson, who was speaking at the release of the club’s accounts for the last financial year. “We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer. But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club. That absolutely does (mean extracting the maximum price).
“For me, Isak was a good sale (in terms of getting a British record fee). I wasn’t here for the Isak situation, so I don’t want to comment on something I didn’t see first-hand. What I do know is that players that leave this club will need to do so on our terms.”
Newcastle learn lesson from Isak transfer disruption
The messaging represents a shift in tone from the Newcastle hierarchy. A year ago, Hopkinson’s predecessor, Darren Eales, claimed it would be crazy to entertain offers for any of their star players, including Isak.
When Liverpool first showed interest in the Sweden international in July, Newcastle refused to negotiate and insisted he was not for sale, only to buckle at the end of the window when the player went on strike to force through an acrimonious move to Anfield.
Lessons have been learnt. Newcastle’s recruitment was panicked and rushed at the end of the window, leading to the signing of two strikers, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, who have failed to deliver the goals expected of them this season.
As a result, Newcastle will be more pragmatic and will engage with clubs who express a firm interest in their players while making it clear they will only entertain bids that match their valuations.
Telegraph Sport understands that the asking price for both Tonali and Gordon would exceed £100m each, as they are both under contract until 2030. Livramento, who will have two years left on a deal he has shown no inclination to extend, could be available for around £60m.