NEWCASTLE are targeting a shock swoop for Ruben Neves after Sandro Tonali copped a ten-month ban for betting on games.
Gambling addict Tonali, 23, admitted placing bets when playing for Brescia and AC Milan and will also complete a rehab programme.
Eddie Howe’s Toon are now stepping up plans for a January replacement with Al-Hilal midfielder Neves and Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips both under consideration.
Portuguese star Neves, 26, only joined the Saudi Arabian side from Wolves in the summer.
But Al-Hilal, like Newcastle, are owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the Magpies are exploring a loan move after losing their £55million star summer signing until the start of the next season.
And they could look to dock some of Tonali’s wages given he will not be able to play again until late August.
The Azzurri international had faced a possible three-year suspension but that was reduced because of his admission of guilt and co-operation with the Italian FA investigation.
Toon are also considering their legal options given Milan sold them the midfielder just four months before the Italian betting scandal broke.
However, Tonali WILL be able to train with Howe’s first-team squad and play in behind-closed-doors friendlies during his ban after his lawyers negotiated a plea bargain.
Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian FA, said Tonali went “above and beyond” in helping authorities.
As part of his rehabilitation, Tonali — who was also fined £17,000 — will make 16 public appearances at amateur clubs and charities dealing with gambling addiction back home.
Fellow Italians Aston Villa midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo and Juventus’ Nicolo Fagioli were also named in the Italians’ betting probe.
Zaniolo, 24, is helping authorities with their investigation after denying he placed any bets on football while Fagioli was last week suspended for seven months. All that follows Brentford striker Ivan Toney’s eight-month ban handed down by the FA last May.
And Wolves boss Gary O’Neil has spoken up about football’s “responsibility” to protect and educate young players on the dangers of gambling.
O’Neil said: “That support wasn’t there when I was playing.
“I was surrounded by a lot of gambling, senior pros in the dressing room where you thought, ‘this is normal’.
“It’s important the lads understand what it can mean for family life, missing games like some players are.
“It can seem fun but all of a sudden you’re missing football for eight months.”
