Newcastle eye Angelo Stiller as Sandro Tonali exit nears

Newcastle United are showing interest in Angelo Stiller as they prepare for the expected departure of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur.

Tonali has already travelled to London for the formalities surrounding his transfer, leaving Newcastle with a significant midfield position to fill. Khéphren Thuram has been mentioned among their options, but another Bundesliga-based target has now entered the picture.

According to Kicker, Newcastle are keen on Stuttgart midfielder Stiller. The 25-year-old is coming off a season in which he played 4,249 minutes across 52 matches, scoring twice and providing 10 assists.

The interest remains at an early stage. No offer has been reported, but Stiller’s unusual contract situation means Newcastle may need to decide quickly whether he is the player they want to pursue.

Stiller is not a new name to Premier League clubs. Manchester United attempted to sign him late last summer but were unable to complete a deal in the limited time available.

Newcastle have now emerged as his latest English suitor.

The Germany international has a €36.5 million release clause, meaning an interested club could trigger it after first convincing the player. That appears to offer a relatively straightforward route into negotiations.

Stuttgart, however, have a way of removing the clause.

The Bundesliga club can reportedly make a one-off payment of €2m to Stiller, after which they would be free to set their own asking price. With Transfermarkt valuing the midfielder at €45m, that decision could make a substantial difference to the eventual cost of a transfer.

Stuttgart want to keep him, but Kicker warns that interest from England can quickly change the reality of a transfer situation.

For Newcastle, the timing matters. Tonali’s departure would remove an established midfielder from Eddie Howe’s squad and create both a sporting need and additional room for a major signing.

There is also recent history between the clubs.

Newcastle moved late for Nick Woltemade last summer and eventually signed him from Stuttgart for around €75m. The size of the offer left the German club with little room to resist.

A similar scenario could develop with Stiller, although the mechanics of this deal are different.

If his €36.5m release clause remains active, Newcastle would not need to tempt Stuttgart with a huge bid. Their priority would be convincing the player and then activating the clause.

If Stuttgart pay to remove it, the balance changes. Newcastle could then attempt to repeat the Woltemade formula by making an offer substantial enough to force the Bundesliga club into a difficult decision.

That helps explain why Stuttgart’s next move could be crucial. Paying €2m would give them greater control over the negotiations, but it would not remove the possibility of a sale if a Premier League club arrives with enough money.

Replacing Tonali will require more than simply adding another midfielder to the squad.

Stiller’s profile offers Newcastle control in deeper areas, while his 10 assists last season show he can contribute to attacks without operating as a conventional attacking midfielder. His workload also stands out, with more than 4,000 minutes across club competitions.

That does not make him a direct copy of Tonali, nor does it confirm he is Newcastle’s preferred target. Thuram and other midfielders remain linked, and there is currently no indication that the Magpies have submitted an offer for Stiller.

The interest does, however, make sense within the wider situation. Newcastle are preparing to lose a major midfielder and are looking at players who can take responsibility immediately rather than purely developmental options.

Having followed Newcastle’s recent dealings with Stuttgart, the Woltemade transfer is also difficult to ignore. The Magpies have already shown they are prepared to move decisively when they identify a player at the German club.

Much will depend on whether they reach the same conclusion about Stiller.

Newcastle must first decide whether to turn their interest into a concrete move as Tonali’s transfer progresses. Stiller’s release clause provides a clear route to a deal, but Stuttgart’s ability to remove it means the conditions could change.

The German club want to keep the midfielder, while Newcastle are also considering other options for their rebuild. If the Magpies do make Stiller a priority, their previous deal for Woltemade has already shown Stuttgart how difficult it can be to resist a major offer from Tyneside.

Should Newcastle activate Angelo Stiller’s €36.5m clause to replace Sandro Tonali?