This summer transfer window has been a disaster for everyone associated with Newcastle United, with the club missing out on a number of transfer targets to other Premier League clubs.
There is no doubt that Eddie Howe wanted to improve his squad after finishing 12th in England’s top flight, but so far, he has had to see his first goal go elsewhere.
Víctor Muñoz and Johan Manzambi are two players who have finished moving to other teams in England, while James Trafford seems to be getting closer to joining Leeds United.
However, Howe has had to deal with key players leaving St James’ Park, with the manager facing a huge task of replacing one player this summer.
How Newcastle would suffer without Sandro Tonali in 2026/27
After finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table last term, Newcastle fans will be worried about losing some of their key talents in the summer transfer window.
Their worst fears have come true in recent weeks, as midfielder Sandro Tonali completed a £100m deal to join Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
The Italian made himself a key part of Howe’s plans on Tyneside after joining from AC Milan in 2023, after which he played in all but three league games last season.
His quality at both ends of the pitch will be a major drawback for the Magpies, as the 26-year-old managed to create many second chances for Howe’s side last campaign.
|
Sandro Tonali Statistics – PL (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Mathematics (90 percentile) |
Mathematics |
|
Appearance |
35 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
It helps |
2 |
|
The fight is done |
1.0 |
|
Ideas made |
0.9 |
|
Duels won |
3.1 |
|
Lost possessions per game |
11.3 |
Tonali also completed more dribbles than any senior Magpies player, while also winning more balls in 90 – and highlighted his box-to-box form.
Off the ball, he made 9.3 defensive contributions per 90, the second highest on Tyneside, making him one of the manager’s most valuable talents.
How to make his next version of Tonali this summer
Despite further departures from Newcastle this summer, the manager has already made a number of additions this window – with two players arriving to strengthen the midfield.
Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur are recent arrivals from Monaco and Ajax respectively, and the youngsters cost the Magpies a combined £60m this summer.
However, it cannot be denied that the manager will be looking for more reinforcements before the window closes, which could see Fikayo Tomori become the latest player to move to Tyneside.
Journalist Sebastien Vidal revealed the latest on the Magpies’ search for the defender, saying that an offer has been made for the England player.
He also says AC Milan are open to offloading the 28-year-old ahead of the upcoming campaign, but want at least €20m (£17m) before sanctioning a sale.
He is a player who has been on the club’s transfer radar in recent years, but it seems that the management have finally made a move to secure his services.
Tomori may work in a different area than Tonali, but he could emulate the Italian by moving to St James’ from AC Milan and hoping to start a new era after a period of uncertainty off the pitch.
His statistics from the latest campaign in Serie A highlight the quality he possesses, which could see him playing a key role in Howe’s defense during 2026/27 and beyond.
The 28-year-old produced impressive figures of 2.3 tackles per 90 in Italy’s top flight last season, which was more than any other defender in Howe’s squad.
It also placed the Englishman in the top 15% of all defenders in Europe’s top five leagues – further highlighting his great ability to keep opponents from causing danger.
Tomori achieved an aerial duel success rate of 53%, which could give Howe’s men more power in the air – alongside the likes of Dan Burn and Malick Thiaw.
However, his biggest asset could be his ability on the ball, which would make him a great addition to Howe’s system which often sees his team come from behind.
He managed an incredible 91% pass completion rate in Italy’s top flight last term – leading writer Henry Winter to call the defender special.
Today’s market has seen skyrocketing prices in recent seasons, leading to large sums of money being spent to acquire top-level talent across the board.
However, Tomori could be a fantastic addition for just £17m, with the defender having significant experience in the Premier League from his time at Chelsea.
If he can get anywhere near the levels that Tonali produced at St James’ Park, there is no reason why he can’t be a fan favorite and lead the division’s support team next season.
