Where Eddie Howe plans to play Sandro Tonali for Newcastle next season

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Newcastle United are on the brink of making Sandro Tonali their first senior signing of the summer, and Eddie Howe already knows exactly what he is going to do with the 23-year-old.

There is hope that Newcastle can complete the Tonali deal on Friday, with the midfielder due to have his medical in Romania, where he is representing Italy at the Under-21 European Championship.

Everything appears to be set for this deal to be finalised, with Tonali due to sign a six-year deal with the Magpies that will see him earn double what he was getting at AC Milan.

He is a marquee arrival for the Magpies, who have spent the early stages of the summer transfer window searching for midfield reinforcements.

Eddie Howe has been keen to sign a ‘number six’ , which would allow Bruno Guimaraes to play higher up the pitch. The belief was that Tonali would fill that role, but a new report suggests otherwise.

Sandro Tonali to play in the ‘number eight’ position for Newcastle

According to the Athletic, Howe plans to use Tonali as a ‘number eight’, playing either side of Bruno. Regardless of which side it is, Tonali is reportedly not going to be the player to allow Bruno to operate in a more advanced role.

That is a major surprise, and suggests that Newcastle have shelved plans to change Bruno’s position. Alternatively, the belief could be that Tonali is defensively astute enough that he can cover the Brazilian, who might be given more licence to roam forwards.

It is unclear whose place Tonali is going to take. Our most regular midfield three last season was Joelinton, Bruno and Sean Longstaff – and we know for certain that Bruno is going to start. But who does Howe drop? It is an unenviable task, and highlights the depth Newcastle will suddenly have in midfield when Tonali joins.

He is going to be competing with Joelinton, Longstaff, Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson for a place in the starting XI, but it looks lie Bruno is continue as the club’s ‘number six’ – for now, at least.