Manchester City will only move for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali under specific circumstances | OneFootball

Hugo Viana and Manchester City appear set to only move for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali in the event of very particular circumstances this summer.

Following the emotional end of the Pep Guardiola dynasty, sporting director Hugo Viana has prioritised detailed recruitment targets in particular positions, having completed the large bulk of the squad rebuild over the last 18 months.

Given the exit of Bernardo Silva at the end of his Manchester City contract, and the Portugal international joining Real Madrid from the start of July, Etihad Stadium bosses are focussing attention on midfield reinforcements.

That mission comes alongside ongoing doubts concerning the likes of Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez, with the former yet to commit to a new contract and his existing deal expiring at the end of the 2026/27 season.

The two key names most frequently linked with Manchester City interest this summer are Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, with some reports suggesting that a double swoop for both has not been ruled out.

Manchester City’s transfer stance on Sandro Tonali

Now, according to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Manchester City will only make a move for Sandro Tonali this summer if another of their current midfielders leaves the club.

While City are described as ‘big admirers’ of the 26-year-old Italian, they currently have their full focus on getting a move for Nottingham Forest and England internationial Elliot Anderson over the line.

City are ‘waiting in the wings’ to accelerate interest in Tonali if another midfield exit occurs at the Etihad Stadium, with Newcastle United placing a £100 million asking price on the player, while a fee in excess of £130 million is expected to be paid for Anderson.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, the report claims that Tottenham have already seen one bid rejected for Sandro Tonali, and are ‘well ahead’ of Manchester City in their pursuit of the midfielder.

How much Man City could financially commit

Committing a British-record sum surpassing £130 million to secure Elliot Anderson from the City Ground underscores Enzo Maresca’s total focus on integrating the 23-year-old England international as his primary midfield engine.

Consequently, allocating a secondary £100 million layout for Tonali without first generating significant capital through player outgoings may be problematic for Manchester City decision makers.

While City remain completely calm regarding Spurs’ advanced positioning in the Tonali race, Hugo Viana’s ‘waiting in the wings’ protocol ensures the club is insulated against any sudden shocks in the market.