Monreal warns Arsenal signing Tonali may force sale of Zubimendi or Rice
Former Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has warned his old club against signing Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali. Monreal believes Arsenal's potential move for Tonali could force the sale of either Martín Zubimendi or Declan Rice, whom he calls 'the two best defensive midfielders in the world.' The former defender said, 'If Arsenal buys Tonali, they will get the best midfielder in the world. But they signed Zubimendi for a lot of money last year, so it's difficult. 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.' Tonali has been linked with Arsenal and other European clubs this summer, with transfer speculation intensifying ahead of the 2026-27 season. Arsenal currently has multiple midfield options but may face financial constraints in accommodating all top-tier players simultaneously. If Monreal's prediction proves accurate, which midfielder would Arsenal be better off keeping: the established Rice, the recently-acquired Zubimendi, or potentially adding Tonali?