Manchester United signed three key attacking players in the summer. Benjamin Sesco, Brian Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have all joined the club, costing around £200m between them, but all showing signs of being smart additions to the first-team squad.
Perhaps it was United’s specific plan to bring in Cunha and Mbeumo, two attackers capable of playing in the Premier League. They have made an impact, with the Brazilian scoring nine goals and assisting, while the former Brentford winger now has 12 goals.
So far, I’d say this investment has been well worth it.
United may now be looking to repeat their masterclass by signing another star from within the Premier League.
Manchester United to sign star player worth £87m
The summer of 2026 feels like another important period for the Red Devils and the INEOS regime, with a new manager set to take over at the club.
Transfer rumors are already circulating, with Wolverhampton Wanderers teen star Matheus Mane linked with a move.
However, if reports are to be believed, United could be looking to sign a more experienced player.
According to Italian publication Tuttosport, the Red Devils are one of the teams in pole position to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer. He is seen as one of the top picks to replace the departing Casemiro.
But the 13-time Premier League champions are not going to take it easy on the Italian national team. Arsenal have also shown strong interest and have said they have had their eye on him for some time.
Whichever club wins the race for Tonali, Newcastle will reportedly demand a transfer fee of up to £87m.
Why Tonali will be another Cunha style player
In the summer when INEOS need to revolutionize their midfield, it is no surprise that Tonali is a name at the top of their shopping list.
After all, Paul Scholes said he was the best midfielder in the Premier League, even claiming he was “better than Declan Rice”.
Tonali, 25, has played an absolutely vital role in the heart of Newcastle’s midfield this season.
He played in 44 games in all competitions, contributing three goals and six assists, although he tended to play at the base of Eddie Howe’s midfield.
United will know first-hand what quality he can bring to the center of the park.
The Red Devils were nearing the end of a great performance from Tonali. Tonali completed eight passes into the final third, recovered the ball five times and created three chances as Newcastle ran out the winners at 2-1.
Tonali vs Manchester United match statistics | |
|---|---|
status | number |
touch | 51 |
pass completed | 27/35 |
advance to the final third | 8 |
Long ball completed | 6 |
Number of balls collected | 5 |
An opportunity has arisen | 3 |
A big opportunity has arisen | 2 |
Fotmob statistics | |
It is nothing new for United to benefit from great performances from their transfer targets. Cunha was so successful in a Wolves shirt last season against the Red Devils that perhaps convinced the club he was the right player to sign this summer.
At Molineux last season, the Brazilian scored a goal and provided an assist to help Old Gold beat United 2-0. He scored directly from a corner kick and teed up his second goal on the counter-attack.
It was a highly expressive performance in which Tonali also put a lot of effort into it.
We can certainly see similarities between these two transactions. United are looking to sign players with a proven track record in the Premier League, and the Italian certainly fits into the same mold as their new number 10.
Both players now have a wealth of experience playing in the top league and are either in their prime, or perhaps already in their prime. This is an exciting strategy for United, with the focus on winning quickly rather than waiting for young players to reach their peak.
There is no doubt that £87 million is a huge investment for Tonali, but if United pull off this deal he could easily become the second coming of Cunha at the club.
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