<figure id="attachment_3273924" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3273924" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3273924" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/94bfcf86-sandro-tonali-03022026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3273924" class="wp-caption-text">Newcastle manager Eddie Howe defended Sandro Tonali’s commitment amid rumours connecting the 25-year-old to a potential Arsenal move. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
LONDON: Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is confident Sandro Tonali will not try to engineer a move away from the Magpies despite speculation linking the Italian international to Arsenal.
Rumours of a shock deadline day move to the Gunners on Monday were quickly quashed after reports in Italy claimed a representative of Tonali had contacted Arsenal.
Newcastle&#8217;s preparations for the season were dogged by the saga surrounding Alexander Isak&#8217;s conduct before he forced through a Premier League record £125 million (US$171 million) move to Liverpool in September.
Howe was asked whether he feared a similar situation with Tonali come the summer window but backed the 25-year-old to remain committed.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so, but lots of things happen without my knowledge,&#8221; Howe said on Tuesday.
&#8220;As far as I&#8217;m aware, we&#8217;ve got a player that&#8217;s an outstanding footballer, an outstanding person. He&#8217;s very happy here, he&#8217;s got a great relationship with me and his teammates, and he seems really, really happy within himself, so that would surprise me.
&#8220;But our best players will always be attracting glances from other clubs, that&#8217;s just the reality of football.
&#8220;We want to keep the group together, we want to keep being progressive, and of course Sandro plays a part in that, trying to hit his best levels and play as well as he can to help the team.&#8221;
Howe could not hide his frustrations at not being able to add to his squad during the transfer window, despite injury problems and a packed schedule with Newcastle still involved in four competitions.
Despite being backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, Newcastle&#8217;s ability to invest has been hampered by financial sustainability rules.
&#8220;We were left with no other option really,&#8221; he added.
&#8220;We have only been active in one transfer window in the last four or five, so I think we are under financial restrictions, we have to be really smart, and we have decided to wait until the summer.&#8221;
Newcastle&#8217;s defence of the League Cup hangs by a thread ahead of Wednesday&#8217;s semi-final, second leg away to Manchester City.
Howe&#8217;s men ended a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the competition last season but have to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Pep Guardiola&#8217;s men away from home.
&#8220;It&#8217;s going to be an almighty challenge, and there&#8217;s no bigger challenge than Manchester City away,&#8221; said Howe. &#8220;But we believe in ourselves, and we&#8217;re going to give it a good go.&#8221;

MatchPoint Times

Howe trusts Tonali will not follow Isak’s lead out of Newcastle

Speculation about a late move to Arsenal was dismissed after Italian reports said Sandro Tonali’s agent had contacted the club.

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