PiF angered by ’embarrassing’ Newcastle blunder over £140,000-a-week star as Sandro Tonali probe accelerates

Newcastle United is currently investigating the oversight made by the club’s recruitment team regarding Sandro Tonali’s gambling addiction before his £55 million summer transfer, according to sources from Football Insider. Wayne Veysey, the editor of Football Insider, disclosed in the Inside Track Podcast that sporting director Dan Ashworth and his team made a significant error by being unaware of Tonali’s gambling issues, which led to a 10-month ban.

Sources reveal that an internal investigation is underway to determine why Tonali’s background checks were not conducted before finalizing the deal. This oversight is considered by Newcastle’s owners, the Public Investment Fund based in Saudi Arabia, as a regrettable and avoidable mistake.

As a consequence of Tonali’s ban, Newcastle is facing financial and on-field challenges, being obligated to pay his full weekly salary of £140,000. The club is now compelled to explore the January transfer market to secure a replacement, likely opting for a loan deal for a midfielder. While they are actively pursuing Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City, the deal is not yet finalized, and other clubs, including Tottenham and Juventus, are expressing interest.

Tonali, who showcased his talent in the early part of the season under manager Eddie Howe, played his last match in October’s 1-0 Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund. Despite his 12 appearances and a goal in his debut against Aston Villa, Newcastle must now address the void left by his absence.

Complicating matters, Newcastle has faced an injury crisis, with key players like Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Nick Pope, and Harvey Barnes sidelined. Manager Eddie Howe has had to rely on 17-year-old academy midfielder Lewis Miley to cover Tonali’s position.

The club’s recent Champions League elimination, a 2-1 loss to AC Milan, and consecutive Premier League defeats to Everton and Tottenham have positioned Newcastle at the bottom of Group F in the Champions League and seventh in the Premier League. Their upcoming match against Fulham on Saturday is crucial as they aim to bounce back from recent setbacks.