Arsenal make Tonali enquiry: How much are Milan asking?
Arsenal have been busy in the transfer window, being one of Europe’s top-spending clubs, and they may not be done just yet, as they target another midfielder to bring into the squad.
The Gunners have already signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City, Fabio Vieira from FC Porto, Matt Turner from New England Revolution and Marquinhos from Sao Paulo.
They’ve always been in the market for a new midfielder, though, with most reports linking them to Leicester City’s Belgian star Youri Tielemans.
There is, now, however, a new target for them as they look to sign Milan’s Sandro Tonali, who won Serie A last year with the Rossoneri and is a full Italy international.
Milan chasing big fee for Tonali
The 22-year-old has been at Milan since 2020, initially signing on loan, and has since played a starring role for the team, including their league success last season as they pipped rivals Inter to the title.
Milan want a big fee for the player, who has a contract until 2026, and they’re chasing around €55 million for the young Italian midfielder.
The club are keen to hold on to their midfield options, having already lost Franck Kessie at the end of last season, with the Ivorian’s contract running out, as he went to Barcelona.
Just what Milan needed! 💪
Sandro Tonali levels things on the stroke of half-time, but the goal was made by the movement of Rafael Leão 😍
Game on. pic.twitter.com/fne2PrRKsg— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 8, 2022
They’ve already got a replacement for Kessie in the form of academy product Tomasso Pobega – the Italy international who has spent the last few years on loan at various clubs across Italy.
Milan plan to build their midfield around these two youngsters for the foreseeable future, and both have long-term contracts that ties them down to the San Siro for a long time.
And with just a few weeks left of the window and the season due to start, the club will be even more reluctant to lose Tonali and find a replacement for him.
Arsenal, too, won’t be keen on paying that steep a price, and can save a bit of money by pursuing other options, such as Tielemans.