Sandro Tonali more likely to leave Newcastle than Bruno Guimaraes - Keith Downie

This summer is going to be one of big changes at Newcastle United on and off the pitch after a pretty unimpressive season this time around.

Whatever happens between now and May, this season isn't going to be one that's looked back on with any great degree of fondness, even if Newcastle win each of their last seven games and qualify for Europe again.

It has already been established that the Newcastle hierarchy will back Eddie Howe, but they expect changes from the gaffer next season, and it is also expected that the playing staff is likely to receive a big shake-up ahead of the next campaign too.

We have no idea who Newcastle are going to bring in this summer, but we have a good idea of a few who are likely to leave, and a couple more who we expect to leave, and at least one who we don't want to see go, but we may be powerless to stop.

Manchester United are thought to be sniffing around Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes as they look to find a replacement for Casemiro. Both Newcastle midfielders are also attracting interest from elsewhere, but Sky Sports' Keith Downie doesn't believe Newcastle would let both players leave in the same window.

Keith Downie feels Sandro Tonali may leave Newcastle

Downie was on Sky Sports News on Wednesday, saying that the club would obviously prefer to keep both at the club, but he concedes that if either is likely to leave, it would be the Italian.

"There is a chance one could go" 🗣️

Keith Downie doesn't believe Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali will both leave Newcastle United in the summer but admits Tonali's exit could be more likely ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/J86ahBXWYH

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 25, 2026

"I think there's a chance one could go, of the two. I don't think both will be allowed to go. What Newcastle don't want is a repeat of last season when Alexander Isak dug his heels in.

 "With regards to Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, I'd say that of the two, Sandro Tonali is probably more likely to leave. However, he is contracted until 2030, so Newcastle could command a huge amount of money for him.

"Unless any player agitates to leave, Newcastle will be keen to hold on to them. I think with Bruno Guimares, he's kind of been mentioned less, and with him, Newcastle as a football club and a city has got under his skin.

"I think he, at 28, is more likely to stay of the two. I'm not saying Sandro Tonali definitely will go, but of the two, I'd say Sandro Tonali is more likely."

Sandro Tonali's contract could be key

The contract security Newcastle has with Tonali will play a huge part in his future. As Downie says, that allows Newcastle to pretty much name their price, and we can bet that their price won't be low.

We already know that, despite being linked with Tonali on a daily basis in Italy, Juventus can't afford to bring Tonali back to Italy. If anyone is going to have the funds to take him off our hands, it's going to be one of the Premier League's 'Big Six'.

That's another reason we really don't want to see it happen because it will be bad enough losing Tonali, but to have to see him play for another Premier League side will really sting.