Sandro Tonali Arsenal talks reopen as Josh Kroenke flags another summer

Josh Kroenke has made it plain that Arsenal are not treating a title as the end of the job. The Arsenal co-owner said the club have already had “a few different conversations” about areas they can improve on and off the pitch, and Sandro Tonali is now back in the frame as part of that planning. Arsenal won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, and Kroenke is already sounding like someone preparing for the next step rather than basking in the last one.

Why Tonali fits the midfield discussion

The Tonali angle is not just about adding another name. Arsenal want further depth in midfield because Declan Rice has been over-worked after the injury to Mikel Merino, and that is the clearest football reason this story has moved on from simple gossip. Rice averaged 7.46 in the Premier League and played 3,116 league minutes, which is a heavy enough load to make reinforcement a sensible idea. Tonali's own output for Newcastle this season, three goals and seven assists in 53 appearances across all competitions, gives him the sort of all-round profile that would interest a side looking for another reliable midfielder.

Kroenke's comments matter because they suggest Arsenal are already thinking in those terms. He did not speak like a club closing the door after winning the league, he spoke like one trying to keep pace with the teams that will come at them next season. That is why the Tonali chatter feels more serious than a standard summer link.

Newcastle still have a say

The move is still only at the discussion stage. Giuseppe Riso, Tonali's agent, said Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro and added that transfer discussions will take place later, with the summer the point when a decision will be made. That keeps the deal speculative for now, even if the interest is real.

There is also no sign that Newcastle are being forced into a sale. They may be open to a fight, and Eddie Howe's stance is not part of the reporting here, but Riso's words make the timing clear enough: nothing is being settled in May. Arsenal can talk about improvement as loudly as they want, but the actual decision on Tonali belongs to the summer.

For now, the picture is straightforward. Arsenal are acting like champions who plan to spend again, and Tonali looks like the kind of midfielder who would help them manage the load on Rice. If the talks develop, this will be a serious one to watch over the summer window.