Newcastle ‘threaten AC Milan with multi-million pound lawsuit’ over Sandro Tonali, with £52m gambling-addict midfielder set to agree a 10-month ban over illegal betting which is set to kick in tomorrow

Newcastle have reportedly threatened AC Milan with a multi-million pound lawsuit as their midfielder Sandro Tonali prepares to be hit with a lengthy ban from the sport.

Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday morning that Tonali is set to be given a 10-month suspension for illegal betting on football, which will rule him out for the remainder of the season.

However, the ban is not likely to arrive officially before their Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park and Tonali will be available to Eddie Howe. Any suspension is only effective from the following day. 

The shocking news comes less than four months after he joined the Premier League club from AC Milan for £52million.

Now, according to Corriere dello Sport, they are seriously considering filing a lawsuit against Milan, having been left angry with the Italian giants for selling them a player that is now set to be unavailable for the majority of the season. 

Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have threatened AC Milan with a multi-million pound lawsuit after signing Tonali from them in July

The Italian midfielder has admitted to betting on his own teams to win matches, and his agent recently claimed the 23-year-old is a gambling addict.

Tonali’s suspension will include eight months of therapy and participating in anti-gambling initiatives.

Corriere dello Sport claim Tonali’s €8m-a-year (£7m-a-year) salary will be suspended by Newcastle, but the club are yet to confirm this to Mail Sport.

Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was also handed a seven-month ban for illegal betting last week, although the club have agreed to pay his full wages and he will continue to train with the first-team.

Tonali has made just 11 appearances for Newcastle since his summer move from Milan, and has struggled for consistency on Tyneside.

He netted on his Premier League debut in a 5-1 win against Aston Villa, but has been unable to kick on since then.

Nevertheless, he remains a popular player at his new club, and manager Eddie Howe vowed that Newcastle would ‘throw our arms around’ the Italy international to ‘protect’ him when speaking on the matter last week.

Tonali then came off the bench in Newcastle’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, and received a huge reception from the fans during a lap of honour after the game.

It seemed that could be his final appearance for the club this season, but he could now feature against Dortmund at St James’ Park tonight.