Ex-midfielder and pundit Danny Murphy has given his verdict on Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.
Danny Murphy believes that new Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will have a huge impact for the club in the Premier League this season.
The Magpies paid £55 million to prise Tonali away from Serie A side AC Milan this summer. The 23-year-old has been a key figure for the Italian giants for the past three seasons, and will now have the chance to prove his quality in the Premier League with Eddie Howe’s side.
Murphy certainly believes that Tonali will shine at St James’ Park this season. Writing in the Daily Mail, the former Fulham and Liverpool midfielder has tipped Tonali to be one of the stand out players in the English top flight this time around, saying, “if you’ve not watched much Italian football, then you might be shocked by his quality…the only surprise was that more teams were not in for him…Bruno Guimaraes is the Toon Army’s hero but, by the end of this season, they might just have two.”
Tonali earned a fine repuation in Serie A. He was a lynchpin in the middle of the park, and has already earned 14 international caps for Italy. If he can hit the ground running on Tyneside, then he has what it takes to take the Premier League by storm.
Eddie Howe has a midfield unit fit for Europe
Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes should be able to strike up a devastating partnership in the middle of the park. Both are able to break up opposition attacks, drive forward with the ball, and carve out opportunities in the final third.
With Champions League football on the horizon, it’s vital that Howe has a midfield contingent to call upon capable of excelling at that level. In Tonali and Guimaraes he has a duo capable of battling it out in the midfield area against anyone.
Tonali may take some time to adapt to the Premier League. Newcastle fans will be hoping that Murphy’s prediction comes true sooner rather than later, though.
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