Newcastle United are starting to draw up a list of potential Sandro Tonali replacements as the Italian looks increasingly likely to move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Tonali has reportedly pledged to join Tottenham, who have failed with two £75 million bids for the Magpies midfielder. GIVEMESPORT understands that Spurs are willing to offer a £85m package deal, which could convince the Tyneside outfit to sell.

The 26-year-old has been a key man for Eddie Howe and will be a massive loss if he is sold. Finding a suitable and worthy replacement will be of the utmost importance and a World Cup star appears to fit the bill.

Newcastle eyeing Manzambi as Tonali replacement

According to Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, Newcastle are showing interest in Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi. The Switzerland international has been making headlines during the World Cup, scoring a brace in a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Manzambi also got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory over co-hosts Canada. His stock is growing amid an excellent tournament and the Magpies are watching him closely.

Downie notes that Howe’s scouts are looking at central midfielders while Tonali’s future is uncertain. Should the club decide to move for the 20-year-old as a replacement, they could be forking out around £42 million.

Manzambi also earned praise throughout the campaign with Freiburg in the Bundesliga. He appeared 47 times across competitions, registering seven goals and nine assists.

The Swiss star, hailed a ‘wonderkid’, has four years left on his contract, meaning Newcastle will likely have to pay the asking price. He is unbelievably versatile, operating in central midfield as well as a second striker, in attacking and defensive midfield.

Newcastle must go bigger to replace Tonali

While Manzambi is clearly an exciting young talent who could develop into a top midfielder, he is still in the early stages of his career. Newcastle need a ready-made replacement for Tonali, who possesses the experience and a profile similar to the Italian’s.

Felix Nmecha is reportedly on the Magpies’ shortlist, and signing the German could be ideal if Tonali leaves. He has Premier League experience, having started his career at Manchester City before becoming one of the Bundesliga’s most highly rated midfielders.

Manzambi is definitely worth pursuing, but he shouldn’t be viewed as the man to come into Howe’s midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes. He’d be a fine addition to offer depth in the middle of the park, and his versatility could be really helpful.

Diego Maradona was one of a kind. A legend of the game, the Argentine forward is widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time.

His YouTube highlight reels are full of dazzling dribbles, his unique body shifts and goals that take your breath away. One goal, however, is revered as arguably the greatest goal of the 20th century, and it is a goal that Maradona puts all down to his opponents.

What is the ‘Goal of the Century’?

It was June 22, 1986, and Argentina were facing up against England in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico. The match became infamous not only for its high stakes but also for the controversy behind Maradona’s first goal, now labelled as the ‘Hand of God’.

The game came just four years after the Falklands War between England and Argentina, adding to the already intense rivalry between the two countries. Just four minutes after Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal, he would score a goal which no one could have any complaints about, as he produced a moment of pure brilliance.

Maradona picked the ball up and dribbled past five England players – Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher, Terry Fenwick, and Butcher again – before taking it past Peter Shilton in goal and slotting it home. He waltzed past every single challenge like a man on a mission, and there was no doubt the Argentina forward had produced one of the single most breathtaking moments in football history.

What made the goal so special was the speed of it, as Maradona had collected the ball from his own half and carried it over 60 meters, riding challenges from England defenders before calmly rounding Shilton in goal. The combination of speed, control and composure is what earned this goal the ‘goal of the century title’.

The two goals from Maradona would result in a 2-1 win for Argentina as they progressed to the Semi-Finals, and they would go on to win the whole tournament.

After the game, fans were in awe of what they had watched, and his mesmerizing run and finish would later be voted by fans in a FIFA poll as the ‘Goal of the Century’.

Maradona’s shirt from the game went on to be auctioned at a staggering £7.1million in 2022.

“I don’t think I could have done it against any other team”

As part of a documentary titled ‘History of Football, Maradona explained how the goal may never have happened if he hadn’t been playing against England.

It was England’s ‘noble’ trait that had let Maradona slip through their defence and score the greatest goal of the century at the Azteca Stadium. Maradona said:

Despite his first goal being a clear handball, Maradona expressed his appreciation for the respect shown by England’s players after the match.

“I liked the respect the English showed me when they came to congratulate me. Glenn Hoddle. Terry Fenwick. Shilton, however, was the exception.”

Shilton had expressed his anger in the past over Maradona’s first goal being allowed to stand, after the small Argentine player had outjumped the goalkeeper and punched it into the net.

Maradona said, “He won’t let me have the goal because he says I’m dishonest. That’s Shilton for you. Tell me, if the ball crossed just over the line, and you swept it away without the referee seeing it had gone over, would you go and tell him it was a goal?

Shilton, however, has recently come out and put his frustrations to rest 40 years after the infamous goal.

Manchester United may get a clear path to wrapping up a perfect Casemiro replacement deal, but that doesn’t mean a deal will be easy to strike. The Red Devils are on the lookout for a holding or hybrid midfielder this summer following Casemiro’s departure, which leaves a sizable hole in the middle of the park.

Michael Carrick is being given a big budget this summer, and it’s clear he wants to sign a midfielder or two, with a holding midfielder seen as the priority, while United could pivot to more of a hybrid midfielder who can do the defensive and offensive work.

One option that has emerged as an alternative to reported prime target Matues Fernandes is Felix Nmecha, and there is a fresh update in that particular race.

Fresh Nmecha twist as rivals drop out

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, who has quietly emerged as one of the more reliable midfielders in Europe, is a player United are said to have kept an eye on. The midfielder did sign a new contract earlier this summer, which could complicate a deal, but it is not out of the question that the Germany World Cup star is sold at the right price this summer.

And in good news for United, Newcastle United, who were rumoured to be interested in an £86million deal, have been ruled out of the race by the Chronicle Live.

The Tyneside outlet reported: “Newcastle, quite simply, aren’t in the market for players costing that sort of money. Having spent a whopping £240million last summer – part-funded by Alexander Isak’s British record sale and the exit of Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly – their budget is a lot tighter this window.”

That means Newcastle won’t be in the competition for Nmecha, opening the door to United. A deal could be hard to reach with Dortmund this summer, but £86million might just do it, and United would be spending a similar figure to sign the aforementioned Fernandes this summer. That could give Carrick and Co a decision to make.

Nmecha on his way to being ‘one of the best’

Nmecha is quickly emerging as one of the best up-and-coming midfielders in the game, now 25 years of age. His World Cup performances have turned heads this summer, and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann saw it coming.

“Felix worked hard and trained well during rehab,” said the Germany boss earlier this year. “He rebuilt his muscle strength and gained exceptional stability in his knee – more than before. During his 20-minute run-out, his first action after nine weeks out was a sharp turn and a 40-metre burst of speed, and I thought: ‘That’s it—he’s back.’

“In the last game, he worked his socks off for 90 minutes. He coped with that very well too. (He’s) a top player who has everything it takes to be one of the best midfielders in the world. He has so much talent, so much pace, so much dynamism. He’s healthy, he’s fit, he has no problems, and he’ll help us enormously to play a good tournament. We already have a world-class player.”