TRon

He holds players off really effectively as well. Him and Bruno combining in that midfield...

Watching the news on Sky that Man U are closing in on Mason Mount for the same amount that we are paying for Tonali gives me a really warm buzz inside. I'm sure Mount's a canny player, but it just feels like a premium paid for a well established English player. Not even a stand-out one like Rice or Foden. Just feels like we are getting a player with much more ability for the same sort of money.

It really is. •Makes mental note to find a shit American movie and slag it in the movies thread.

This is how it should have read: He's Italian, he's hard sprays the ball 40 yards that's Tonali...! Left Milan for the Tyne wins the ball every time that's Tonali...! etc You could maybe come up with some better words, but the jist of it is right. Definitely the best tune so far.

That's basically what Cronky just posted above but he formatted it absolutely shite.

I basically gave up on St James songs when the faithful failed to pick up on the "Oh Miggy you're so fine, you'r so fine you blow my mind hey Miggy!!" I mean it was so simple, everyone knows it, and it's virtually an anthem. But nooo, we had to have some other dirge which no one could possibly pick up so it ended up being a few diehards singing it among themselves.

Considering all the big clubs are circling the same players, it's very impressive how we manage to steal a march on some really good ones. Botman, Bruno, Isak and now Tonali. It's imperative that we operate under the radar, then wrap things up quickly once we have the green light. We really do have a brilliantly well run club now.

That's very handy for Chelsea tbf, because those high wages would have made most of their players impossible to shift in established football leagues.

I wonder if they have even watched him play?

Succinctly put. I think this is going to be as epic a signing as Bruno was. One thing I love about this lad is that not only is he immensely loyal to his team - he only left because Milan needed the sale - but once the decision has been made, he's not hesitated at all to get the move done. Barely finished the match yesterday and he's flying in for the medical.

Tbf, those three just mostly cut out the middle men and planted them directly in the net.

What we could really do with is a left footed set piece taker. Those days when we had a choice of Shearer/Solano on the right, and Robert on the left were the golden years of set pieces in recent history.

Yep. There's some weird takes on here like. We sign a world class player, and for some reason fans want to compare him unfavourably to a totally different player with different qualities. I'm sure Lavia is a fantastic player in his own right, but Tonali looks a great fit for us.

I have only seen one highlights video, but it looked like he was very good at holding the ball under pressure and then going past players to open up space. That's worth it's weight in gold in creativity by itself, especially in a deep lying midfielder.

Yeah Savic was also mentioned. Probably how they are looking at it, use the money from Tonali to fund a couple of buys which might make them better in a couple of positions rather than one out and out replacement.

Milan looking to replace Tonali with Guler according to the Loaded Mags channel. Not sure where they got that from but might explain why they are prepared to sell Tonali.

The Italians who think we are overpaying obviously have no idea of what the English football market is like. Man U paid this much for a 31 year old Casimero ffs, and good player that he is, it puts this deal into perspective.

I don't know mind. Tonali has that moody dangerous look that many find very appealing. He'd make a great Batman.

Same here, Maldini was a hero of mine as well, but many of that iconic team were, Baresi, Gullit and the incomparable Van Basten also. Along with Ajax and Barcelona, probably the best European club teams I've watched down the years.

Now THAT'S what I call transfer rumours!

That's almost the whole transfer budget blown on one player mind.

Just heard the story breaking we are close to agreement. Tell me one more time please.

It's brought a satisfying end to what has been a decidedly good transfer rumours day.

It was metaphorical really. Toon fans wouldn't be hoying bricks off actual heads. They'd probably find one to put through the monitor though.

I don't know if he actually has any genuine sources feeding him this stuff, but it seems a sensible take. Probably better not to get too carried away, there is probably still a lot to be done to make a deal happen, but it does seem like it's being discussed between the two clubs, and that in itself makes you think it might go through.