Sandro Tonali makes Alexander Isak point amid decision over Newcastle future

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Sandro Tonali has admitted he is taking his Newcastle future season by season after it emerged he signed a contract extension at the club back in 2023.

The midfield star insisted he is happy on Tyneside but referenced Alexander Isak’s summer move to Liverpool as an example of how things can change. The Italy international is now tied to St James' Park until the summer of 2029, though the Magpies possess the option to prolong the agreement by an additional year.

Nevertheless, Eddie Howe disclosed a fortnight ago that he would relish securing Tonali - who has been linked with Manchester United , Real Madrid and a return to Serie A with Juventus - to new terms at Newcastle to further solidify his future on Tyneside.

Yet when questioned following Wednesday's 2-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao about whether he envisages his long-term future at the club, Tonali stated he isn't contemplating that far into the distance at present and is instead concentrating on the immediate situation.

"This is a tough question because, you know, [in] football you need to think year for year," he responded after picking up the man of the match award.

"I don't want to say I want to stay here 10 years and in two years, three years, four years [or] five years I will go. I want to think, just for me, year for year. This is football. The last summer was tough for us, for Alex [Isak], but this is football.

"If you have an option for your life, for another team you need to think about everything. I don't want to say 'Yes, I want to stay here 10 years' but now I'm happy here. I don't think anything about another team."

Tonali penned a new deal at Newcastle following his 10-month suspension from football for breaching betting regulations.

It represented a leap of faith from the Magpies at the time, and the 25-year-old has rewarded that trust by emerging as one of the Premier League's finest midfielders.

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"I'm happy about it. This extension was three years ago after the ban, I don't know why the last week everybody spoke about it," he added.

"When I had the ban, when I was out off the pitch, I signed my contract for one year because it was difficult staying off the pitch for [what was] my fault, for my problem, and [take] all the money from this team.

"The club spoke to me, spoke with my agent, and [we] signed for one more year. But it's not for the money, it's not for one more year. It was because I have confidence in this team, and this team have confidence in me. So we worked together.

"But every day for me is the same here. Every day I work for the win every game, I work for every person in Newcastle, I work for my family, I work really for every person here."

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