Alan Shearer believes Newcastle United will struggle to hold onto players like Sandro Tonali if they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Tonali’s future in the north east came into doubt on transfer deadline day after it emerged he had been offered to Arsenal after the Gunners lost Mikel Merino to injury.

Arsenal explored the move with talks taking place in the final hours of the January window. Newcastle however swiftly knocked back the audacious approach, adamant one of their key players would not leave the club midway through the campaign.

Eddie Howe echoed those sentiments this week, insisting the Italy international ‘loves representing the city’, dismissing suggestions January interest could unsettle the player heading into the summer.

Newcastle are hopeful of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League with a play-off tie against Qarabag to navigate first.

Their participation in next season’s competition is less certain, with the Magpies currently sat in 11^th place.

While fifth is likely to be good enough for Champions League qualification again, Newcastle are currently seven points adrift of that spot.

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