Newcastle United do not want to spend big on a new midfielder but are keen on a loan signing to replace Sandro Tonali.
According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are certain to sign a new midfielder in January but only want a loan deal. FFP regulations could prevent the Magpies from spending big on a new player to replace Sandro Tonali, who will miss the entire season and Euro 2024.
It’s not an ideal situation for Newcastle United after the Sandro Tonali verdict. Having spent £55 million on the Italian, the midfielder will now miss 10 months of action owing to a ban for illegal betting. The former AC Milan star will now miss the entire season as well as Euro 2024.
His absence does leave a void in Newcastle United’s midfield, with Eddie Howe having to rely on the same options he had last season. With the Champions League and other competitions to play, the manager may want a replacement in place ahead of the January window. Still, the club may only afford a loan signing.
With FFP regulations looming over their head, they are not in a position to spend £40 million on Scott McTominay, who has been on Howe’s list for some time now. There are other links to different players, but those will also cost a lot in the January window.
They are also reportedly interested in Brentford’s Mathias Jensen. Convincing the Bees to let him go on loan would prove challenging. The London side have been open to sales for any players of their squad for the right price. Hence, they might open their doors for a permanent transfer rather than losing Jensen on loan.
There’s also a cost-effective alternative in the midst of these expensive names, with Cagliari midfielder Razvan Marin linked recently. The on-loan Empoli midfielder might cost €5 million in January and has a similar profile to Tonali.
Loan moves for midfielders in January are always tricky, especially for big clubs. The player might not see an incentive to join Newcastle, knowing well the chances of permanent transfers are slim to none. The message from the club remains clear, as they plan on re-integrating Tonali when he returns.
Hence, an option like Marin would work for the Magpies instead of a high-profile loan move for one of their other targets. It’s not to suggest that Newcastle United will not find the right target. But things will depend on their expectations of the said player and how much importance they want to place on his shoulders.