Liverpool have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Sandro Tonali with Brescia president Massimo Cellino claiming that the Italy international has rejected the chance to join Paris Saint-Germain, speaking to Corriere dello Sport.
A 20-year-old playmaker is one of the most exciting young midfielders in European football – but just don’t call him the ‘new Andrea Pirlo’.
Tonali, as he has been at pains to point out, is more a Gennaro Gattuso or a Luka Modric. He sees himself as an old-school, box-to-box enforcer who can pass, tackle and shoot in equal measure.
Even Pirlo himself claims that the three-cap Azzurri starlet could be more ‘complete’ than he ever was. So no wonder almost every superclub on planet earth has been making enquiries.
Alfredo Pedulla reports that Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan of a player who’s boundless energy and supreme technical gifts make him almost tailor-made for this all-conquering Liverpool side.
And, if Cellino is to be believed, Inter Milan, Juventus and Napoli are keen too. Barcelona, meanwhile, have made an offer of almost £60 million. But if there is one club that we can pretty much rule out of the race, it is PSG.
“(PSG president) Nasser (Al-Khelaifi) would like to have him in Paris. He wrote to me today. But Tonali doesn’t want to go to France,” said the former Leeds supremo. “Barcelona had offered £60 million.
“Sandro is a kid who lights up as soon as he sees a ball. On the pitch, I have seen him do impressive things.
“His personality… he sacrifices himself for his team. Before the suspension (of the 2019/20 season), he had been hiding an inflammation in his quadriceps from me. He wanted to help his teammates. When we realised (he was injured), we had to force him to stop.”
Whether you think hiding a potentially serious injury is reckless or remarkable, it’s fair to say this sort of warrior spirit would be well received by a bespectacled, bearded tactician renowned for his love of ‘heavy metal football’.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
