Manchester United are preparing an £87m transfer fee for their next signing Cunha

Those of Manchester United’s persuasion will be hoping for a repeat of last summer’s transfer activity. The hierarchy at Old Trafford are moving particularly quickly to secure the early signing of Matheus Cunha.

United have been helped by the Brazilian’s ability to attack and use his £62.5m release clause to his advantage, but have also ensured there is no protracted dispute or dispute over his merits. This was an unusually modest deal for the Red Devils.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man had a sluggish start, including a penalty miss at Grimsby, but like all his players he has improved under Michael Carrick and has delivered a number of great finishes for the club so far.

The 26-year-old is a true success story for the INEOS system, scoring his 10th Premier League goal of the season against Nottingham Forest. Could similar deals continue?

Manchester United move into full swing with €100m bid for midfielder following Ederson deal

From United’s point of view, the first signing of the summer looks set to be another Brazilian, with Atalanta’s Ederson said to be close to an early move.

The deal, which could be worth around £39 million, is thought to be with Manuel Ugarte’s departure in mind, with Casemiro’s true potential successor still needed.

The quest to fill the 34-year-old’s void is likely to be carried out through a Premier League lens, with Carrick and others likely prioritizing players who have already established themselves in England’s top tier, as was the case with Cunha and Brian Mbeumo.

For example, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, United are ready to make their next move in earnest once Ederson’s contract is confirmed, with Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali a clear target.

The 26-year-old joins the Magpies in 2023 on a £55m deal and could be snapped up for a fee of around €100m (about £87m), according to reports.

As reported elsewhere, the only hurdle is likely to be interest from United’s rivals, with Arsenal thought to be pursuing a move of their own.

Why Tonali could be Man United’s other Cunha this summer

There was plenty of reason to be excited about Cunha’s arrival last summer, not least his proven performances at Molineux, where he had scored 27 goals in the Premier League over the past two seasons for a struggling side.

Like Tonali, the 26-year-old South American looks to be in the perfect age group and, although he has yet to reach his true peak, he has the qualities to fit in seamlessly in Manchester.

Perhaps the only obvious concern was how his time at the Old Gold ended, as he endured a falling out with manager Vitor Pereira, with frustrations boiling over during a memorable post-match clash with Bournemouth.

Part of the problem seemed to have been his obvious desire to secure a move away, but thankfully there were no concerns with his attitude at Old Trafford after that, and Carrick responded well on the bench in both of his first two games, providing an assist for Patrick Daugt against Manchester City and scoring the winning goal away to the Emirates.

He is ready to make the step up from Wolves and has so far grabbed his chance in a United shirt with both hands, but Tonali is also expected to be able to do that next season.

As with Cunha, there has been talk of the Italian’s future at St James’ Park, with it being an open secret that he wants to leave following reports of his previous links with the Gunners in January.

It has been a tough season for Eddie Howe’s midfielder, both individually and collectively, but like Cunha, Tonali could prove to be a very smart signing for the Red Devils if he proves long-term.

In his agent’s view, he was undoubtedly “one of the best midfielders in the world” and overcame a difficult start to life on Tyneside to emerge as a true centerpiece in Howe’s midfield.

Teammate Bruno Guimarães may steal the spotlight, but the former AC Milan star is a real force in his own right, a combative and powerful presence in the center of the park.

Like Cunha, there’s a lot to like about his physicality and a little edge to his game, but he’s able to combine that work ethic with a quality end product.

Indeed, Tonali was in the spotlight against Carrick’s side early last month as the 10-man hosts ran out 2-1 winners, creating two “big chances” and making three important passes before being sent off in the closing stages.

The Newcastle escapee certainly ticks a lot of boxes, a player who, like Cunha, is used to shooting sensationally from long range, as he did against Aston Villa in the FA Cup earlier this year.