Manchester United target Sandro Tonali in £87m move as midfield rebuild takes shape

Manchester United are closing in on a second major midfield signing of the summer, with reports in Italy indicating that Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali is ‘on his way’ to Old Trafford for a fee of approximately £87million.

The move would follow United’s near-completed deal for Atalanta’s Ederson and represents Michael Carrick’s most ambitious statement of intent since being appointed permanent head coach on a two-year contract. Carrick has identified the midfield as the priority area for reconstruction after Casemiro’s departure this summer.

Tonali, 26, joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55million in July 2023 and is contracted at St James’ Park until 2029, with an option to extend for a further 12 months. Despite Newcastle’s difficult season — one that has frequently required their squad to defend deep — Tonali has registered 147 ball recoveries according to FotMob, ranking highly among Premier League midfielders for successful passes and dribbling. He has scored 10 goals in 110 appearances for the Magpies, operating primarily as a central or deeper-lying midfielder.

United’s hierarchy are said to be undeterred by the steep asking price. The club had already conceded defeat in their pursuit of Elliot Anderson and have been linked with West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes, but Tonali appears to be the preferred profile — an experienced, ball-winning midfielder with established Premier League credentials.

Tonali’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, had suggested his client’s future would be resolved after the World Cup, but Italy’s failure to qualify removes that delay. United moved decisively to sign Matheus Cunha last summer, and the club are expected to push for an early resolution on Tonali before the transfer window reaches its peak.

Newcastle’s resolve will be tested. The Magpies have already lost Alexander Isak to Liverpool and Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in a £69.3million deal, and manager Eddie Howe has insisted the club will have a strong say over the futures of their key players. ‘We were in a more vulnerable position than we are now,’ Howe said. ‘Ross [Wilson, football executive] has filled that position and is showing really good leadership.’ Whether that leadership extends to resisting a near-£90million bid for one of their most influential players remains to be seen.