Sandro Tonali transfer update as Manchester United lurk - The Athletic

Sandro Tonali has been linked with a move away from Newcastle United since he was 'offered' to Arsenal on deadline day in the January window.

While the tales of Arsenal launching a last-minute bid for the Italian were wide of the mark, it kick-started a wave of speculation over the future of Tonali.

Matters weren't helped when Sandro's agent started doing the rounds, talking to anyone with a microphone and failing to provide a definitive answer on where the 26-year-old's future lies.

Speculation over his future is nothing new. Italian media have been trying to tout his return to Italy since the day he signed for Newcastle, but those stories always felt fanciful. A move to a 'bigger' Premier League club felt a lot more likely, especially given his agent's constant reminders of how Tonali wants to be playing in the Champions League - which, if he does stay at Newcastle, he'll not be doing next season.

Manchester United is cooling its interest in Tonali

The links to Arsenal faded over time, but just as that happened, talks of a move to Manchester United ramped up.

The Red Devils need to replace Casemiro who will leave at the end of the season and Tonali, along with Bruno Guimaraes, has been mentioned many times as a potential target.

Fortunately for Newcastle, The Athletic has reported that Manchester United's interest in Tonali is waning.

"The temperature from Old Trafford has been cooler on Tonali in recent weeks."

What side of the Tonali divide do you fall on?

Tonali divides opinion in the Blog office. Some of us are big admirers of him and the way he plays, while others feel he flatters to deceive.

Whatever your personal opinion on him, you can't deny that he's one of the Newcastle squad who possesses the most 'star power' and, if he were to be sold, would bring in a considerable amount of money, but would also massively weaken the squad.

He may not single-handedly improve how the team plays like Bruno Guimaraes does, but when he's in that midfield along with Joelinton, we are the envy of every side in the Premier League. He's part of one of, if not the, most complete midfield trios in the English top flight. 

It hasn't clicked for him as much this season, but you could say that about 99% of the squad. Speaking for my side of the Blog divide, I hope we do everything we can to keep him beyond the summer.