Report: Sandro Tonali faced Italian prosecutors and has admitted to betting on Milan games

Things are about to go from bad to worse with Sandro Tonali if the latest reports from Italy are to be believed.

Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that in his meeting with the prosecutors working the case, Sandro Tonali has admitted to betting on AC Milan while he was a player there.

However, Tonali claims that he never bet on matches in which he played which would get him off the hook on criminal charges, but he still faces a possible one-year ban from football.

Tonali is cooperating with the investigation which will go in his favour, and has admitted to having a gambling addiction for which he will receive treatment, although just how much those two things will go towards reducing his suspension remains to be seen.

It's been a tough week for the Italian who signed for Newcastle in the summer for around £55million and although he's still cleared to play on Saturday, he might be absent from the matchday squad to get his head together.

Tonali's form since he arrived from AC Milan has been hit-and-miss at best with many people suggesting it will just take him a bit of time to adapt to the Premier League. However, with everything that's going on and the speed at which it's unfolding, it suggests that his investigation has been going on for a while and Tonali possibly knew what was coming his way and was therefore distracted.

Or I'm just making excuses for him.

As things stand though, it looks like we'll have to get used to not having Tonali in the squad for a while. This would also likely drastically change Eddie Howe's January transfer plans.