{"id":258474,"date":"2026-08-18T18:15:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T18:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/18\/bargain-deal-on-the-cards-newcastle-have-found-the-next-sandro-tonali\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T18:15:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T18:15:14","slug":"bargain-deal-on-the-cards-newcastle-have-found-the-next-sandro-tonali","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/18\/bargain-deal-on-the-cards-newcastle-have-found-the-next-sandro-tonali\/","title":{"rendered":"Bargain deal on the cards: Newcastle have found the next Sandro Tonali"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As far as smooth starts go, it hasn’t been the easiest for Newcastle United<\/a> manager Matthias Jaissle, who replaced Eddie Howe<\/a> in the hot seat last month and has been under the cosh from the get-go.<\/p>\n

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Newcastle hit more than a few sticky patches in the Premier League<\/a> last season, falling from their prominent perch under Howe’s wing and slumping to a 12th-place finish.<\/p>\n

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\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Lee Smith<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

So much went wrong, and the Magpies have since been swept away by so many changes in the summer transfer market. It’s been a tough one to take, but not every deal needs to be bemoaned, with the \u00a3100m sale of Sandro Tonali<\/a> to Tottenham Hotspur looking like excellent business.<\/p>\n

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\n Why Newcastle were right to sell Tonali<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Tonali went through the paces during his three-year stint with Newcastle, initally cast to the side following a lengthy betting ban, but returning and finding world-class form to revolutionise the Howe era, firing Newcastle into the Champions League and helping secure the Carabao Cup title in 2025.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Tonali-Anderson-Newcastle-Forest\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

However, the Italian maestro fell with his teammates into something of a slump last year, and he was unable to produce the silky, stylish and steely displays of the previous campaign. The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards acknowledged the frustration around his departure to a Premier League rival, but noted he was “average last season<\/a>” across 2025\/26.<\/p>\n

Tonali is a physically dominant athlete and an intelligent distributor, but he did indeed leave a lot to be desired last year. The 26-year-old only completed 84% of his passes without being particularly creative, and having won only 3.79 duels per game, he ranked among the bottom 17% of Premier League midfielders for that metric.<\/p>\n

Selling Tonali to Tottenham was indeed a good move. For a nine-digit sum, the Italian maestro’s departure can surely be offset. What’s still frustrating, however, is that he hasn’t been adequately replaced – and Bruno Guimaraes’ recent move to Arsenal has deepened Jaissle’s worries.<\/p>\n

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\n How Newcastle could finally replace Tonali this month<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Tonali might have been “average” last season, but Newcastle have still lost a key cog at the heart of their system. Bamba and Steur both have qualities that, in the aggregate, could help replace Tonali, but more is surely needed.<\/p>\n

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\n \"Sandro\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Well, according to Sky Sports Germany’s Philipp Hinze, Newcastle have enquired over the availability of Nicolas Seiwald, who has a big fan in Jaissle. The 25-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder is on the Magpies’ radar as the transfer window reaches the closing stages,<\/p>\n

Described as \u201cthe type of midfielder every top team needs<\/a>\u201d by analyst Spencer Mossman and as a “sharp duel winner” by the same scout<\/a>, Jaissle indeed knows Seiwald well, having managed him in Austria with RB Salzburg who signed him for just \u00a317m.<\/p>\n

Though he might not have the same depth of technicality as someone such as Guimaraes, but his smooth passing, high-energy approach and excellent reading of the game could see him prove the missing link in a Newcastle midfield lacking so much right now.<\/p>\n

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\"Austria\n <\/picture>REUTERS\/Lisa Leutner<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Tonali is irreplaceable, a unique profile, but Seiwald does share a number of similarities with the Italian, namely, he is a strong dueller and commanding defensive presence. He has room for growth while having garnered enough experience to cement himself as a mainstay at the heart of a Jaissle system – again.<\/p>\n

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League Form (2025\/26)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Stats (* per 90)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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Tonali<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

\n

Seiwald<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Matches (starts)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

35 (31)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

33 (31)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Goals + Assists<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0 + 2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0 + 2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Touches*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

58.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

54.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Accurate passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

37.7 (84%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

38.9 (89%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Big chances created<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Key passes*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Possession lost*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6.3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Succ. dribbles*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ball recoveries*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Def. contributions*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5.6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Duels won*<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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3.1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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3.4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Seiwald might not cover as much ground as someone like Tonali, but he knows how to command his space in the centre of the park. He knows how to control a game and direct traffic, getting stuck in.<\/p>\n

For Austria at the World Cup, the 25-year-old won a whopping 78% of his duels and completed 92% of his passes. Given that he likes to press forward and find openings in attacking spaces, he could also play a line-breaking role that Tonali, of course, will no longer produce on Tyneside.<\/p>\n

Seiwald is a bit of an underrated midfielder, capable of dictating tempo and pressing with intensity. Tonali might not be on the books anymore, but the Austrian could be the perfect replacement, bringing a flavour of Jaissle’s style to a side who are only just establishing themselves.<\/p>\n

Many have already written Newcastle off, but oftentimes, it can be this kind of pragmatic signing that can get a project off the ground.<\/p>\n