Tonali on the verge of returning to Italy, projected to Milan's rivals

2025-02-23 15:18:00, Sport CNA

Juventus are preparing for another squad revolution this summer. The Bianconeri are determined to overhaul some of their recent transfer decisions, with midfield expected to be the main focus of the changes.

Despite investing significant sums to strengthen this squad last season, Juventus's management have been left disappointed by the performances of Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz. Both players arrived with high expectations, but their performances have not been up to the mark for a club aiming to return to the top of Italian and European football.

Koopmeiners, who was signed from Atalanta, was seen as a versatile midfielder who would bring creativity and balance, but he has failed to become a key player for the team. On the other hand, Luiz, who was acquired with a large investment from Aston Villa, has not fully convinced Juventus' playing system. For this reason, the club is seriously considering the possibility of selling one of them, or perhaps even both, in order to completely reformat the midfield.

Juventus have a clear objective to restore quality in the midfield department and it bears the name of Sandro Tonali. The former Milan midfielder is the great desire of sporting director Giuntoli, who will try to bring him back to Serie A after a difficult period in England.

Tonali joined Newcastle in the summer of 2023 for a fee believed to be in the region of £100million, but his Premier League adventure has fallen short of expectations. His start in England was promising, but then came a suspension for breaching betting rules that kept him out of action for a long time. With his return to active football, Newcastle appear open to negotiations, especially if Juventus offer a deal that suits the English club's finances.

If Motta is confirmed as coach for next season, Tonali is seen as the ideal player to lead the midfield in his system. Motta is looking for midfielders who are technically skilled, tactically intelligent and have the ability to control the pace of the game.

Tonali has shown that he is capable of dominating the midfield in Serie A, as he did with Milan in 2022, which culminated in the championship title. His ability to cover a lot of ground, vision of the game and help in the defensive and attacking phases make him a perfect profile for what Mota is looking for in his schemes.

To make this transfer possible, Juventus will try to cover most of the costs from the sales of Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz.

Newcastle, on the other hand, will not let the player leave easily, having invested heavily in him, but his situation at the club and the suspension that kept him out for a long time could make this transfer more feasible.