Newcastle United hope to keep its momentum going after earning a Champions League spot in the past Premier League season.
They hope to do this by targeting AC Milan's Sandro Tonali in a bid that many describe as ambitious.
Football insider Fabrizio Romano said the Magpies are close to completing the deal after the negotiations fell due to the demand of the Serie A club.
"Newcastle are on the verge of reaching full agreement with Sandro Tonali on personal terms as salary proposal is really huge. ️️ #NUF," he wrote on his Twitter account.
"Contract until June 2029 for €8m net plus €2m add-ons salary per season."
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Previously, The Athletic reported that Newcastle initially offered €50 million ($54 million), but Milan thought the player was worth more than that.
The Premier League club raised its offer to €70 million ($76 million), to which the other club responded positively.
Who is Tonali?
Tonali, who is only 23 years old, is a highly coveted player branded by many Italian analysts as "Regista," or director. He is praised for his playmaking skills and quick thinking on the field.
He is being compared to Italian legend Andrea Pirlo although some think he could be better than the 2006 World Cup winner.
Pirlo himself also thinks that Tonali is better than him since he can also excel on the defensive side of the game.
The offer for the young up-and-coming Italian player could match the club-record purchase of Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad last season.
Aside from a midfielder, manager Eddie Howe is also looking to beef up their defense, looking for a center-back and a full-back.
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