Sandro Tonali is not the only player who Newcastle think internally is like a new signing

Add as preferred source on Google

It is a cliché, but Sandro Tonali is very much like a new signing for Newcastle United this season.

That is despite the fact that Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali last summer for £55million. He was a new addition in 2023, becoming one of Newcastle’s most expensive signings ever.

However, the 24-year-old only made 12 appearances during the 2023/24 season. In October, he was issued with a 10-month ban for breaching betting regulations, bringing a premature end to his debut season as a Newcastle United player.

He is now closing in on a return, with Tonali available to play for Newcastle from August 28th. That could mean he makes his first appearance back against Nottingham Forest in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

Eddie Howe believes Tonali will be like a new signing for Newcastle, and that is certainly the case. He did not have enough time to make a proper impact last year, but now his comeback is on the horizon.

Newcastle have another player who is like a new signing

According to the Athletic, people inside Newcastle are viewing Tonali as a new signing, which is exactly what Howe has said in the media.

However, the Athletic also state that Joe Willock is also being seen internally as like a new signing – just to a lesser extent.

This comes after Willock missed the majority of the 2023/24 season with injury. He was only fit enough to make 14 appearances in total, and he was a big miss during what was a gruelling campaign.

But Willock has admitted that he is fully fit now, and he will hope to have the kind of impact that he had during the 2022/23 season when he helped Newcastle qualify for the Champions League.

Joe Willock will have to force his way into Eddie Howe’s Newcastle XI

However, the big problem for Willock is going to be getting into Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

His best position is on the left of the central midfield three, but that is also Joelinton’s best position. With the new Premier League season set to start on Saturday, it looks like it will be Joelinton who gets the nod to start.

Elsewhere in midfield, Willock is not a number six, so he is not going to take Bruno Guimaraes’ place. And on the right of the three, it will be between Sean Longstaff and Sandro Tonali. The former should start the season in the starting XI, but Longstaff will be under pressure to perform with Tonali’s return looming.

That leaves Willock fighting for a place in the side. His best chance may come if Howe decides to deploy Joelinton on the left wing and a vacancy opens up in the middle of the park.

But Howe will find a way to benefit from the 24-year-old’s talent. Isak recently said that Willock is different to Newcastle’s other players, and his uniqueness should make the Magpies a better team this year.

He is a little bit like a new signing to a certain degree, but what fans are really hoping for is actual new signings.