NEWCASTLE UNITED have received the green light to formally conclude Sandro Tonali’s €70m switch from AC Milan after Italy Under-21s’ surprise exit from the European Championships ended the midfielder’s time in Romania.
While Newcastle have finalised terms with AC Milan for the transfer of the 23-year-old midfielder, and agreed personal terms with Tonali and his representatives, the completion of the deal was on hold while Italy Under-21s were still involved at the Euros.
However, with Tonali skippering the side from the heart of midfield as he played the full 90 minutes, the Italians suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Norway last night. As a result, they have failed to make it out of the group stage and will not be involved in the quarter-finals.
Along with the rest of the Italian squad, Tonali is set to leave his side’s Romanian training base later today, and he is now expected to travel to Tyneside before the end of the week.
That will enable him to complete the final remaining technicalities of his move, and pose for his first official pictures as a Newcastle United player at St James’ Park.
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His move should be confirmed shortly after that, with the Magpies making him the most expensive outgoing player in Italian footballing history.
While Newcastle’s non-international players are due to begin pre-season training next week, Tonali will be granted a break in the wake of his Under-21 exertions. However, he is expected to be part of the squad that will travel to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series next month.
Newcastle’s recruitment team continue to hold discussions over Tino Livramento, although at this stage, they are still to reach an agreement with Southampton over the full-back.
The Magpies are understood to have offered around £15m for the defender, but the Saints are holding out for a higher fee as they are due a hefty sell-on fee to Chelsea as part of the deal that took Livramento from Stamford Bridge to St Mary’s.
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