Newcastle United remain steadfast that Sandro Tonali is only for sale for £100 million, but they are already preparing for life after the Italian international midfielder. Tonali has attracted interest from Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham, with Tottenham being the first to launch a bid last week—an £80 million offer that was rejected.
Tonali's value and potential replacements
Newcastle developed Tonali into one of the Premier League's leading midfielders since his £55 million move from AC Milan three years ago. He still has three years remaining on his contract at St James' Park, allowing Newcastle to demand the highest possible fee to fund a replacement. One name that has resurfaced is AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit, who has long been on Newcastle's radar.
The 20-year-old won the UEFA Youth League at club level and the Golden Boot en route to winning the European Under-19 Championships last summer. This season, he starred in the Europa Conference League and helped AZ win the Dutch Cup, scoring five goals and registering 10 assists in all competitions. Already a Dutch international, his ability to translate youth-level mentality and leadership into senior football has placed him at the top of Newcastle's recruitment list.
Cost comparison with Declan Rice
AZ are believed to seek at least £60 million for Smit, who has two years left on his deal. While that figure may seem hefty for a player untested outside the Eredivisie, his ceiling is considered huge. Running Smit's name through DataMB's player similarity generator shows that Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice ranks in the top five most similar players to Smit. Rice, who won the Premier League with Arsenal this season and helped them reach the Champions League final, signed from West Ham for £105 million three years ago. Smit's potential £60 million fee is £45 million less than Rice's transfer value.
According to Sean McCormick, Newcastle reporter, if Newcastle land Smit, it could prove to be one of the most shrewd bits of business they will ever do. Competition for Smit will be high, so securing his signature would be a major coup, especially off the back of potentially losing Tonali.
