Man Utd to now go ‘all in’ for ‘best midfielder in the country’ after conceding defeat in Elliot Anderson chase

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Stretty News

·28 maggio 2026

Man Utd to now go ‘all in’ for ‘best midfielder in the country’ after conceding defeat in Elliot Anderson chase

There is a growing acceptance at Manchester United that their priority midfield target, Elliot Anderson, is Manchester City-bound.

Indeed, the departure of Pep Guardiola has not altered City’s stance when it comes to the Nottingham Forest starlet, with soon-to-be-manager Enzo Maresca also keen on having Anderson in his ranks.

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Man City favourites to sign Elliot Anderson
– martedì 26 maggio 2026

United to move for Sandro Tonali after Anderson setback

As a result, INEOS are having to turn their attention to their other shortlisted candidates, one being Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali. According to CalcioMercato, the Red Devils are prepared to go ‘all in’ for him.

It’s expected that he’ll be on the move this summer due to his desire to continue playing in the Champions League, and Newcastle’s 12th-placed finish on Sunday confirmed that wouldn’t be something they could offer in 2026/2027.

🔺 NEW: Sandro Tonali’s agent has revealed that the player is considering leaving Newcastle United in the summer and may need Champions League football to tempt him to stay at St James’ Park. Read the details ⬇️
– venerdì 6 febbraio 2026

A return to his native Italy, where he previously represented Brescia and his boyhood club AC Milan, is said to be ruled out for Tonali, as any potential suitors would be unable to match his wages or meet his price tag.

Is a deal for Tonali financially feasible?

United, on the other hand, are capable of doing both, but that doesn’t mean they will.

The salary cap introduced by INEOS upon their arrival in M16 in February 2024 means no new players will immediately be put on exorbitant wages.

They’ve done so to prevent situations like Jadon Sancho’s, where he was instantly granted £250,000-a-week, oversaw two dismal campaigns for the club and spent the rest of his five-year deal out on loan.

With Casemiro, while he was viewed as a successful and beneficial signing in the end, it did raise eyebrows when he joined at 30 years old and began pocketing a whopping £350,000 each week.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen how much the Magpies will demand to facilitate the exit of one of their most valuable assets, as well as how much they’ll add on to that if United are his chosen destination.

Tonali’s Premier League record courtesy of their official website

25-year-old Tonali was previously hailed by Football Italia as being ‘the best midfielder in the country’ when representing his nation last year.