Newcastle star Sandro Tonali opts to join Arsenal in shock Tottenham U-turn
Arsenal completed their first signing of the summer transfer window this week and could now leapfrog rivals Tottenham in the race for a marquee midfielder.
Arsenal start summer business
Piero Hincapie has completed a £34.5million move to Arsenal as the Premier League champions begin planning their title defence.
Hincapie, currently playing for Ecuador at the World Cup, joined Arsenal on loan from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
The 24-year-old defender made 39 appearances in all competitions as the Gunners secured their first title in 22 years and reached the Champions League final.
Hincapie’s permanent move to the Emirates Stadium was expected to be made official with Arsenal confirming they had exercised his stay clause, which runs until 2031, on Thursday.
He becomes the club’s first signing of the summer after Arsenal spent more than £250m on seven players last year.
Hincapie has played in both of Ecuador’s World Cup games so far – a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast, followed by a draw with Curacao – and will feature again on Thursday when the South American side face Germany in their bid to reach the knockout stages.
Arsenal are also expected to strengthen in midfield, with questions raised over Declan Rice’s career.
Better than Bouaddi: Berta opens talks to sign Arsenal’s £80m English star
Ayyoub Bouaddi is not the only exciting midfielder on Arsenal’s transfer wish list.
The England international limped off with his calf strapped following the Three Lions’ draw with Ghana, having played 4,456 minutes for the Gunners last season, the equivalent of almost 50 full games.
Arsenal have been linked with Bournemouth star Alex Scott and Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, and a Tyneside-based journalist launched an update on the Italian’s future this week.
Tonali chooses Arsenal over Tottenham
Indeed, according to The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Tonali prefers joining Arsenal over Tottenham.
“I also don’t think that Tonali really wants to go to Spurs. I was told that he can choose Manchester City or Arsenal. As before, let’s wait and see.”
This would be a U-turn from reports in recent days, when Fabrizio Romano reported that Spurs were the only ones interested in Tonali and the BBC confirmed that the Lilywhites had made an £80m bid.
That offer was rejected by the Magpies, who wanted close to £100m, and it seems that Tottenham’s reluctance to meet this figure has opened the door to their biggest rivals.
Arsenal, on the other hand, were showing an interest in Tonali before the departure of Spurs, but they are also trying to raid St James’ Park in search of another star.
Our opinion: Arsenal should prioritize Bruno Guimaraes
David Ornstein reported on Friday that the Gunners have made a verbal offer to Newcastle for Tonali’s teammate, Bruno Guimaraes, and the Brazilian cult-like personality will fit like a glove under Mikel Arteta.
Indeed, since Guimaraes’ arrival on Tyneside, the Magpies have never won a game he hasn’t appeared in, with his infectious work rate and leadership essential to Eddie Howe’s dynamic style.
The 28-year-old has added the final product to his game again in the last 12 months, providing three assists so far at the World Cup following a campaign in which he registered nine goals and five assists in a career-high 29 games.
Arsenal’s first offer is thought to be less than £60m and has been rejected, and Ornstein says Newcastle have no intention of selling him, but if Arteta and Andrea Berta are serious about turning their latest brilliance into permanent dominance, they should make the most of the Rio de Janeiro man over Milan.
