'That would be a surprise': Eddie Howe addresses Sandro Tonali rumours after deadline day confusion
Newcastle United fans were sent into a panic on Monday morning as rumours started to circulate that Arsenal were set to launch a deadline day bid for Sandro Tonali.
The club immediately moved to squash the rumours, but later that day, The Athletic claimed that the rumours were triggered after Sandro Tonali's agent had approached Arsenal to shop the Italian around.
Tonali's agent has since denied those claims, but the seeds have been planted now.
While there wasn't any danger of Newcastle losing Tonali yesterday, it does bring up question marks over his future.
Eddie Howe says Sandro Tonali is happy at Newcastle
Speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow's Carabao Cup semi-final, Eddie Howe spoke about Tonali, saying that he spoke to him yesterday and also fielded a question on whether this now has the potential to be another Alexander Isak situation this summer.
"Sandro is absolutely fine. I had discussions with him yesterday. His focus is on the here and now and with us. There is no issue with Sandro himself. He is happy and committed."
(On this turning into an Alexander Isak situation): "I don't think so but lots of things happen without my knowledge. As far as I am aware we have an outstanding footballer, and outstanding person and he has a great relationship with me and his team-mates, seems really happy in himself and that would be a surprise to me. Our best players will always be attracting glances from other clubs, that is just the reality of football. We want to keep the group together, keep being progressive, and, of course, Sandro plays a part in that. All encompassed I don't see an issue but I am not in control of everything."
Well this doesn't look good, does it?
When even Eddie Howe isn't sure what's going on, it's hard to be fully confident that we're not heading for another testing summer.
We're already expecting to lose Tino Livramento in the summer, if we lose him and Sandro Tonali that would be catastrophic.
Fingers crossed it's all just a media poop storm and Howe's confidence that Tonali is in a good place is the real story.
