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The nitty-gritty is still to be determined but, for now, Newcastle United are building a protective wall around Sandro Tonali.

Throughout this week, the midfielder has been offered backing from all levels of the club as well as reassurances that his long-term future remains on Tyneside.

On Thursday, members of Newcastle’s ownership group held a video call with the 23-year-old, in which he and his family were given the club’s full support. Eddie Howe, the head coach, has spoken to an “absolutely devastated” Tonali at length, first on the telephone and subsequently in person at the training ground in Longbenton.

With Giuseppe Riso, the player’s agent, stating Tonali is suffering from a gambling addiction, an “illness” as Riso put it, those conversations have been “emotional”, Howe said, but they have also been unequivocal.