Published: 17:00, 3 February 2026 | Updated: 17:00, 3 February 2026

Lost amid claim and counter-claim, faux excitement and words like ‘rubbish’, ‘wild’ and ‘nonsense’, was the germ of a story whose first page was turned on deadline day: Sandro Tonali and his future at Newcastle United.

A report, from Germany, claimed that Arsenal had approached Newcastle. They had not. It was also said that the move was rejected. It would have been, had there been anything to reject. Cue mass denial. Nothing to see here.

Except, there most likely was. Daily Mail Sport was told of ‘an agent making mischief’. OK, but why? Agents don’t make mischief like a kid in a classroom. They make moves, like a dark force in a dressing-room. They test fault lines.

Later in the day, the agent most closely associated with Tonali, Giuseppe Riso, denied any contact with Arsenal. Sources on Tyneside believe him. There are, though, several who orbit around the Italian, some closer than others. ‘We never had any conversation with Arsenal,’ Riso told Sky Italia. ‘Newcastle were never going to let Tonali leave...