Manchester United’s midfield rebuild could be very serious, with Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali still firmly in the spotlight, despite the club also being keen to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson.
According to reports in Italy, United do not view signing either player as an either-or situation.
Instead, manager Gianluca Di Marzio has indicated that he remains interested in Tonali, despite Michael Carrick’s side also making significant progress towards signing Ederson.
The idea is simple. United will need several new midfielders this summer, especially with Casemiro set to leave at the end of the season.
Man United back to sign Newcastle midfielder
There are also interesting developments regarding Tonali’s future at Newcastle. Back in March, it was reported that the Italian midfielder had entered into a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Newcastle that would allow him to leave if the club failed to qualify for Europe and a big club was involved.
This agreement has resurfaced in new reports, making his situation one to watch closely.
Manchester United have been linked with both Tonali and Ederson.
Reports from Italy suggest United are confident they can complete an ambitious midfield double, with a fee of around £43m to £50m for Ederson and potentially much more for Tonali.
That says a lot about United’s mindset. Carrick doesn’t want to replace Casemiro with one player and call it a day. He seems to want a permanent change in the center of the pitch.
Casemiro’s departure leaves a huge gap in terms of experience, personality and defensive presence, but United’s midfield also needs more energy, control and leg power for some time to come.
Tonali will bring a different type of quality. He’s not just a destroyer, he’s not just a passer.
At his best, he gives intensity, aggression, ball progression and the ability to control the tempo.
Perhaps that’s why his name keeps cropping up alongside Bruno Guimarães and other high-level midfield targets.
The Magpies are expected to demand a premium for Tonali.
The big issue, of course, is the price. Newcastle are unlikely to do this easily. Some reports suggest United could be considering a deal worth around €75m to €100m, while others suggest Newcastle’s true offer could be even higher.
Manager Fabrizio Romano also suggested that United consider the move to be costly, especially considering their wage demands.
Still, Newcastle’s failure to qualify for Europe could change the atmosphere surrounding the player.
If Tonali has a genuine understanding with the club and he wants Champions League football, United may feel they have a chance to test Newcastle’s resolve.
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