Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has downplayed the reported interest from Arsenal in signing midfielder Sandro Tonali, saying that he doesn't foresee any issues with his star player remaining at St James' Park.
Contrary to reports on Deadline Day that suggested Tonali's agent had offered him to the Gunners, Sky Sports News understands that Newcastle had no contact with Arsenal for the Italian midfielder. His agent Giuseppe Riso also claimed to have only communicated with Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta regarding Tonali's future, and that there was never any serious intent on signing the player.
Howe acknowledged that transfer speculation can sometimes unsettle players, but he remains confident that Tonali is happy at Newcastle and has no intention of leaving. "I don't think so [he'll become unsettled], but lots of things happen without my knowledge," Howe said.
The manager also addressed the recent saga surrounding Alexander Isak's transfer to Liverpool, suggesting that it highlighted the challenges of navigating the complex world of football transfers. "Probably a lot can be learned from Isak's situation... But stuff that's above me, I think."
Newcastle have been active in the transfer market this summer, but they made no signings during the January window due to financial restrictions and financial sustainability rules imposed by the Premier League. Howe acknowledged that not signing any new players could pose a risk, particularly given their busy fixture schedule.
However, he insisted that the club's approach was driven by necessity rather than a lack of ambition. "We've been used to working in these conditions now for a while... We're under financial restrictions, we have to be really smart, so we've decided to wait until the summer."
Contrary to reports on Deadline Day that suggested Tonali's agent had offered him to the Gunners, Sky Sports News understands that Newcastle had no contact with Arsenal for the Italian midfielder. His agent Giuseppe Riso also claimed to have only communicated with Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta regarding Tonali's future, and that there was never any serious intent on signing the player.
Howe acknowledged that transfer speculation can sometimes unsettle players, but he remains confident that Tonali is happy at Newcastle and has no intention of leaving. "I don't think so [he'll become unsettled], but lots of things happen without my knowledge," Howe said.
The manager also addressed the recent saga surrounding Alexander Isak's transfer to Liverpool, suggesting that it highlighted the challenges of navigating the complex world of football transfers. "Probably a lot can be learned from Isak's situation... But stuff that's above me, I think."
Newcastle have been active in the transfer market this summer, but they made no signings during the January window due to financial restrictions and financial sustainability rules imposed by the Premier League. Howe acknowledged that not signing any new players could pose a risk, particularly given their busy fixture schedule.
However, he insisted that the club's approach was driven by necessity rather than a lack of ambition. "We've been used to working in these conditions now for a while... We're under financial restrictions, we have to be really smart, so we've decided to wait until the summer."
. I mean, come on, Eddie Howe is right - transfer speculation can get to players, but it's not like Arsenal was trying to poach him or anything 
. It just goes to show how crazy this transfer window has been 
. And poor Alexander Isak... that situation with Liverpool was just wild 
. I'm glad Newcastle stuck to their guns and didn't sign anyone in January, though - they've got a tough fixture schedule ahead of them 
. It's all about being smart and managing your finances, you know? Don't want any unnecessary risks 
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. Eddie Howe's being super chill about it and not letting all the drama get to him 
. I mean, it's not ideal having all these reports flying around about Tonali potentially leaving but he's just saying 'hey, we're good' 
. And can you blame them for wanting to prioritize financial sustainability? It's not like they're gonna be able to splurge on tons of new players with the Premier League rules in place 
. Plus, it shows that Howe and the club are thinking ahead and being smart about their business 
. No need to get too worked up over Isak's situation either - sometimes things just don't work out, you know? 
. It makes sense that Eddie Howe would prioritize his star player's happiness over potential transfer offers from bigger clubs. The recent Isak saga is a great example of how complex football transfers can be 
. I think it's interesting to note how Newcastle's approach is driven by financial necessity rather than ambition 
.
. Like, if your player isn't even leaving, why bother addressing it? It's not like you're gonna lose a star player or anything... I mean, Newcastle has been pretty rubbish for years so they can afford to wait until the summer for some new signings 
. i feel him tho, navigating the transfer market can be super stressful 
. Newcastle might not have made any signings this jan, but they're still looking good for the summer 
, so maybe it's good that Howe isn't getting involved in that drama. The thing is, you can't please everyone when it comes to transfers – there's always gonna be someone who wants your best player 
.
Like, one minute he's being courted by Arsenal, the next he's happy as a clam at St James' Park 
And can we give Eddie Howe some major props for staying calm under pressure? 
He's like the ultimate adult, managing stress and all that jazz 
. And btw, Alexander Isak's transfer saga was EVERYTHING 
. I need a tea on how that whole thing went down! 
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. Meanwhile, Arsenal's trying to be all cool and calm about Tonali, but it's clear they're itching to make a move... or are they just playing the role of "interested party" like Trump used to do? 
. it's just transfer speculation again, lol. isak's saga was wild tho... guess u can learn a lot from a messy situation 
but it's always fun to speculate, right? meanwhile, Isak's drama is still fresh in our minds and we're all just like "wait what happened again?" 
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... the Prem has strict rules in place, so clubs have to be smart about their spending.
. I mean, they knew they couldn't afford to make any new signings, so they played it safe 
.
. I feel like the football system is just too focused on the players' personal lives and not enough on their well-being. The constant speculation can be really unprofessional, if you ask me 
. Maybe we just need to accept that things take time and that player stability is key?