After the devastating transfer window that’s unfolded at Newcastle United this summer, it would be hard to put pressure on Matthias Jaissle to succeed during his debut campaign.
The German has arrived at St James’ Park to replace Eddie Howe, but he simply won’t be able to call upon numerous players who made his tenure on Tyneside a success.
Bruno Guimarães is the latest player to depart the Magpies this summer, subsequently joining Premier League champions Arsenal for a fee in the region of £75m including add-ons.
He joins Anthony Gordon in also moving on to pastures new, but it may be harder to replace one player whose move certainly surprised many across England’s top-flight.
Why Newcastle may struggle to replace Sandro Tonali
Early July saw the transfer window really start to ramp up, with Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali completing a staggering £100m move to join Tottenham Hotspur.
The Italian was one of the first big-money additions of the Saudi PIF’s reign and undoubtedly got the ball rolling for the success endured during Howe’s managerial reign.
He racked up 110 appearances during his three years at St James’, including a remarkable 53 across all competitions for the Magpies last campaign.
However, despite recouping a mega fee for the 26-year-old, losing a player of his calibre will be a bitter blow for Jaissle in his hopes of achieving success during his tenure on Tyneside.
|
Sandro Tonali – PL stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Tally |
|
Appearances |
35 |
|
Goals |
0 |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Tackles made |
1.0 |
|
Interceptions made |
0.9 |
|
Duels won |
3.1 |
|
Possession lost per game |
11.3 |
Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba have both arrived to fill the void already this summer, but both are aged under 21 and will no doubt need time to adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
Both talents are more suited to operating in a box-to-box role and having an impact within attacking areas, whilst Tonali was more comfortable sitting deep and operating ahead of the backline.
As a result, further additions could well be expected before the end of the transfer market, but it remains to be seen how much the manager will be handed to land his chosen targets.
How Newcastle can land their next Tonali this summer
With just two weeks remaining in the summer window, the Newcastle hierarchy will have to work quickly if they are to land any of their preferred transfer targets.
Striker Christopher Nkunku has emerged as a surprise transfer target, but it remains to be seen if Jaissle believes added depth is needed in the centre-forward position.
However, the central midfield experiment does continue to see added players linked with a move to Tyneside, with Nico Gonzalez the latest to emerge on their radar.
Journalist Keith Downie provided an update on the deal via his YouTube channel latest on the deal, stating: “What I am told is that it is still at an early stage but talks have taken place. He is a player that Newcastle have been looking at and monitoring and considering for a while. My information is that Newcastle have had exploratory talks with Manchester City.”
It’s unclear whether Enzo Maresca’s men would be willing to sanction a move for the Spaniard, or whether the player himself would entertain an exit from the Etihad.
However, one thing is for sure: the Magpies are targeting a top-quality player who hasn’t hit the heights many expected after his move to Manchester 17 months ago for £52m.
Despite his struggles, his underlying stats from 2025/26 do highlight areas of quality – many of which could see him emulate the impact of Tonali on Tyneside.
Gonzalez managed to complete 90% of the passes he attempted in the Premier League last season, whilst also achieving a 71% dribble completion rate.
Both of the aforementioned figures showcase his phenomenal ability with the ball at his feet, which could hand Jaissle the anchor-type midfielder needed after Tonali’s departure.
The Spaniard also managed to come out on top of 6.1 ground duels per 90, whilst also making 2.4 tackles per 90 – with both figures higher than those produced by the Italian.
His work-rate without the ball to regain possession for his side could be vital for the Magpies – especially after losing such an influential talent earlier in the window.
The 24-year-old has even come up with multiple impressive strikes during his time at the Etihad – but none more important than his match-winner in the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton last season.
His experience playing under one of the best managers in the world could undoubtedly see him add needed quality and know-how to the heart of the Newcastle side.
Losing Tonali was a bitter pill for the supporters to swallow, but replacing the Italian with Gonzalez, whilst still having money left to spend, would be superb business.
