Sandro Tonali: Man United running out of time to agree deal with Newcastle | OneFootball

Manchester United are running out of time to strike a deal for Sandro Tonali as rivals in the red-hot race for the Newcastle United midfielder pull ahead, according to new reports.

Midfield Maestro

The Red Devils are prioritising a major upgrade in Michael Carrick’s engine room this summer ahead of a return to the Champions League next season.

Despite calls for a contract extension, Casemiro will leave an Amazon-sized hole after a resurgent campaign for the Brazil international at the heart of the team. Manuel Ugarte is expected to join his South American teammate through the exit door, having proven incapable as a deputy since his £42.1 million arrival from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

A £39m deal has already been agreed for Atalanta dynamo Ederson, 26, while talks are ongoing for West Ham’s 21-year-old starlet Mateus Fernandes.

But neither target offers that high-level replacement for the departing Casemiro, which explains the identification of Nottingham Forest talisman Elliot Anderson and Real Madrid superstar Aurélien Tchouaméni as the club’s leading targets in the No.6 position.

However, a deal for either player looks increasingly remote as Anderson is on the verge of joining Manchester City, and Tchouaméni appears set to remain in the Spanish capital after the return of José Mourinho. Tonali is another option high on United’s radar, with Carrick said to be a huge fan of the 26-year-old Italy international, who has enjoyed a strong season despite Eddie Howe’s side’s struggles.

Sandro Tonali Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

Newcastle’s asking price – believed to be as high as £100m – was considered prohibitive, however, and United’s interest cooled, allowing rivals to steal a march on them.

AC Milan and Spurs storm into the race

The Red Devils’ main competitors for Tonali were understood to be Arsenal and Manchester City, with both clubs having held initial talks with the player’s camp. But in a shock twist, Tottenham Hotspur have stormed into the race, intent on providing Roberto De Zerbi with a “statement signing”, according to David Ornstein.

The Italian manager is driving the pursuit of his compatriot, which is backed by the ownership, with Spurs the “most advanced over a proposed deal” out of any suitor. “Positive talks” have been held with Tonali, The Athletic reporter reveals, though club-to-club negotiations with Newcastle are yet to be initiated.

However, another layer of complexity comes from AC Milan, where ex-United boss Ruben Amorim has agreed to take charge of the Rossoneri on a two-year deal with the option for another. This will save INEOS a considerable outlay on compensation, though it may prove decisive in the hunt for Tonali.

Newcastle signed the midfielder from AC Milan in 2023 for a fee in the region of £60m. TEAMtalk reports his preference, were he to leave Tyneside this summer, is a return to the San Siro.

Milan have a ‘pathway’ to striking a cut-price deal for Tonali due to the amounts the Magpies owe in previous deals for him and defender Malick Thiaw, signed last summer for an initial £34.3m.

But the state of chaos at the Serie A giant, which saw them miss out on Champions League qualification and subsequently sack manager Max Allegri, chief executive Giorgio Furlani, sporting director Igli Tare and technical director Geoffrey Moncada, was believed to be a major obstacle in Tonali’s mind.

However, with Amorim’s appointment agreed and a new sporting director in Markus Krösche close to being finalised, a sense of stability will return. Milan are “keeping a close eye on developments” at St James’ Park, with well-placed sources indicating Tonali “remains a player admired at San Siro.”

Final Thoughts

With Tottenham ready to splash the cash after coming perilously close to being relegated, and AC Milan retaining an inside track to agree a reduced fee for Tonali, while heavyweights like Arsenal and Manchester City linger in the background, United feel increasingly unlikely to pull off an unlikely swoop for the Italian.

There is also doubt about whether his best position is as a defensive midfielder, which is the priority to complement Kobbie Mainoo the way Casemiro did, as neither Ederson nor Mateus Fernandes are best deployed as a No.6.

Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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