Newcastle United are braced for a bid from Juventus for midfielder Sandro Tonali, who has emerged as a key target for the Italian giants.
According to Gazzetta, the Serie A powerhouse are planning to sweeten the deal by throwing in Douglas Luiz as makeweight in a potential player-plus-cash deal.
Juventus are eager to lure Tonali back to Italy but are aware they could be prized out of a potential deal by Newcastle’s lofty demands.
Tonali joined the Magpies in a high-profile transfer from AC Milan two years ago, but the Bianconeri have been keeping a close eye on the Italian international.
The 24-year-old has featured 35 times across all competitions, weighing in with three goals and two assists, and Juventus see him as a valuable addition to their midfield.
Tonali is currently valued at €45 million (£37.5m) on Transfermarkt, but Newcastle will likely demand around £58m for the Italian midfielder, which is around the same figure they paid to sign him from Milan.
While Juventus haven’t officially opened talks with Newcastle, they’re hoping to reduce that figure by proposing a player swap, which would see Luiz head in the opposite direction.
The Brazilian joined Juventus from Aston Villa in the summer of 2024 but has struggled to assert himself in the team after struggling with injuries this season.
However, he remains a player of huge quality and was a standout performer for Villa in the previous campaign, notching 10 goals and 10 assists in 53 games across all competitions.
Despite his dip in form, Luiz is still highly rated, and Juventus believe using him as a makeweight could persuade Newcastle to lower their demands for Tonali.
Juventus and Newcastle are on decent terms following Lloyd Kelly’s move to the Allianz Stadium in January, so that could play a massive role in the potential deal.
Juventus could also use Dusan Vlahovic as a bargaining chip.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak has been heavily linked with a move away from St. James’ Park. If that happens, the Magpies could be interested in a move for Vlahovic.
