In the beautiful game, where fortunes can change in an instant, Newcastle United finds itself at a crossroads. With their star midfielder Sandro Tonali now facing a ten-month ban from professional soccer, the Magpies seem to be in a precarious situation. The ban has prompted Newcastle United to fill the void left by the Italian. Reportedly, they have eyed former Wolves captain Ruben Neves, who has recently swapped the Premier League for a stint in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal.

As the Magpies face a challenging dilemma amidst their current campaign, they are plotting an audacious move for the Portuguese midfielder. Let’s delve deeper and unveil what’s cooking behind the scenes at St. James Park.

Newcastle United eyes Ruben Neves as a replacement

Reports have emerged indicating that Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United is determined to boost their midfield in the absence of Sandro Tonali, who has been a key figure since his $66 million move from AC Milan this summer. The void left by Tonali’s ten-month ban has prompted Newcastle United to explore potential replacements. While the club had previously been linked with Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips, it is Ruben Neves who is now in pole position to fill this crucial role.

Ruben Neves, who spent six years at Wolves, made a surprise move to Al-Hilal in the summer transfer window. He joined forces with soccer stars such as Neymar, Milinkovic-Savic, and Koulibaly at Al-Hilal. However, despite the allure of the Saudi Arabian soccer scene, it seems that Neves’ stay in the Gulf nation might be shorter than expected, as Newcastle United sets its sights on him.

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It is interesting to note that during Neves’ time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, he didn’t hold back in criticizing the Magpies for their playing style, labeling them as a ‘long-ball team.’ In a post-match interview after a 1-1 draw at Molineux last season, he voiced his opinion, stating, “Well, it’s the Premier League, every game is like that. Of course, their style of play is like that. Just long balls and second balls. They’re not a team that wants to have possession too much, we knew that, we prepared well for that.”

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The timing couldn’t be better for Newcastle United’s pursuit of Ruben Neves, as they are already facing the challenges of a demanding campaign. Along with the Premier League campaign, they face a tough challenge in their heavyweight Champions League group as well. Meanwhile, Tonali’s quality will be difficult to replace as he patiently counts the days for his return.

Sandro Tonali set to face time away from the pitch

Tonali, Newcastle’s marquee summer signing from AC Milan, is entangled in controversy with a ten-month ban due to his involvement in illegal betting. The 23-year-old is allegedly involved in placing bets on his former clubs AC Milan and Brescia, during his tenure with them. Though the Italian is allowed to continue training with Newcastle, he will not be able to participate in any matches for the remainder of the season. Furthermore, he could miss Euro 2024 with Italy, if the defending champions qualify for the tournament in Germany.

With Tonali now out of plans for the Magpies, their pursuit for Neves highlights the fluid nature of soccer. Ruben Neves could fill the void left by Tonali, and prove to be the missing piece in Eddie Howe’s midfield puzzle. As the winter transfer window nears, it will be interesting to see if Newcastle United becomes successful in securing the services of the Portuguese veteran.

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