Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United have been told they would need to pay around €40 million to sign Aleksandar Stankovic should Sandro Tonali leave St James’ Park this summer, with the Magpies already making initial contact over the Inter Milan youngster.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly making progress in their pursuit of Tonali after submitting an opening bid, although Newcastle are expected to demand a fee of around £100 million before considering a sale.
With uncertainty surrounding the Italian midfielder’s future, Inter are aware that Newcastle could step up their interest in Stankovic as a potential replacement.
According to Tuttosport, Inter’s summer plans also include the expected arrival of Marco Palestra, while Curtis Jones remains a transfer target. Nottingham Forest are continuing their pursuit of Davide Frattesi, with Stankovic also available for the right price.
Inter recently activated their buy-back clause to bring the Serbian midfielder back after his spell at Club Brugge. Although new head coach Cristian Chivu knows the player well from their time together in the Primavera setup, the Serie A champions are still willing to sanction a sale if their valuation is met.
The report adds that Newcastle made initial contact earlier this month, with Inter setting an asking price of €40 million. However, there is a belief that negotiations could eventually reduce that figure.
Inter are aiming to make a significant profit on any sale, having brought Stankovic back this summer, while Newcastle view the highly rated youngster as a potential long-term replacement should Tonali depart.
Stankovic impressed during his time in Belgium, including appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and a move to the Premier League could represent the next step in his development. If Tonali leaves, the Serbian midfielder would have a clearer pathway to regular first-team football under Eddie Howe.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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