Arsenal could sell Declan Rice to sign Sandro Tonali, warns Nacho Monreal
Former defender Nacho Monreal has warned that Arsenal may be forced to sell England midfielder Declan Rice this summer if they pursue a deal for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.
The Gunners are reportedly interested in the Italian international as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of their Premier League title defence.
Manchester United are also monitoring the 24-year-old as they seek to reinforce their own options in the centre of the pitch.
Midfield overcrowding could force major exit
Arsenal already possess a wealth of defensive midfield talent following recent recruitment drives.
Arteta currently has Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and Christian Norgaard at his disposal alongside his £105m record signing.
Speaking to Rekatochklart, Monreal suggested that adding another premium talent would necessitate a significant departure from north London.
“If Arsenal sign Tonali, obviously they will have the best midfield in the world,” the Spaniard stated.
“To have both Tonali, Zubimendi, and Rice would be a lot, so I can only imagine that they would have to sell either Zubimendi or Declan Rice if they really want Tonali.”
European heartbreak fuels future motivation
The former West Ham captain remains a central figure at the club and has made 158 appearances since his blockbuster arrival in 2023.
Despite the transfer speculation, the 27-year-old is focused entirely on his current team after a painful defeat in the Champions League final.
“He [Arteta] is gutted, we’re all gutted, as the emotions and the stakes are so high,” the midfielder admitted.
“We got over the line in the Premier League, which was a dream come true. This would have been one step further, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Since I came to the club, it was a quarter-final exit, semi-final, and now a final. We keep going, we keep staying positive.”