Arsenal have already been linked with a swoop for Newcastle star Sandro Tonali again, just days after lifting their Premier League title lift.

The dust has barely settled on Arsenal's first Premier League title in 22 years and the rumour mill is already in overdrive.

Mikel Arteta's side wrapped up the championship when Man City dropped points at Bournemouth, and confirmed the celebrations with a 2-1 final-day victory at Crystal Palace — Gabriel Jesus and Noni Madueke scoring in a performance that felt more like a coronation than a contest.

85 points, 26 wins from 38 matches, and a Champions League final against PSG in Budapest still to come on May 30. It has been some season.

Within days of the final whistle at Selhurst Park, reports began emerging of contact between the Gunners and the representatives of Tonali.

The Newcastle midfielder has been one of the most talked-about players on the transfer market this summer, with his camp actively pushing for an exit from St James' Park and a cluster of elite clubs circling.

But according to reliable Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder, the reality may be less dramatic than the headlines suggest.

What sources at Arsenal are saying about talks for Sandro Tonali

Ryder reports that the Tonali-to-Arsenal links have been "played down by sources at Arsenal," and that no formal talks have taken place between the two clubs at this stage.

Newcastle, for their part, are "braced for a summer of rumours and gossip" around the 25-year-old Italian, but remain firm in their stance: any player will only be sold on "our terms."

Ryder also adds a significant detail — Arsenal's priority this summer is not a midfielder.

That last point is worth pausing on.

Arteta's midfield is already well stocked.

Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi give the Gunners depth and quality across multiple positions, and the areas Arsenal are expected to target this summer are understood to be further forward and at the back, where injuries to Ben White, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori exposed a lack of cover during the title run-in.

None of that means a move for Tonali is impossible.

Football moves quickly, and if Newcastle's asking price drops or the player forces the issue, clubs of Arsenal's stature can pivot in days.

Tonali's quality is beyond question.

He has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since returning from his betting ban, and his ability to control matches from a deep-lying role would enhance any squad in Europe.

Newcastle are demanding between £75m and £100m for a player under contract until 2029, and they have no intention of offering discounts to domestic rivals.

A gentleman's agreement is rumoured to exist that allows Tonali to leave if the Magpies fail to qualify for European football — which they have — but that does not extend to dictating the price or the destination.

Arsenal have bigger fish to fry before the end of May.

The Champions League final is four days away, and Arteta's attention is firmly on Budapest rather than the transfer market.