Manchester United are preparing a formal offer worth around £86 million for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, as the club accelerates its summer rebuild following the confirmation that their primary midfield target Elliot Anderson is heading to Manchester City.
Sources confirmed to Football365 that United are ready to make a "suitable offer" for the Italian, who has been one of the most dynamic and combative midfielders in the Premier League since joining Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023. Tonali, 25, has been central to Newcastle's Champions League campaigns and represents the profile of athletic, aggressive box-to-box midfielder that Michael Carrick has been seeking to add to complement Kobbie Mainoo's quality.
The Anderson blow
United had listed Anderson as their primary transfer target for the summer but have now been firmly beaten to his signature by City, with sources indicating the England international has made his preference for the Etihad clear. Anderson's stunning display in the 2-2 draw at the Etihad earlier this season — including a memorable long-range equaliser — is said to have made up City's minds, and TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey confirmed the deal has been considered done within football circles for several weeks.
Tonali offers a different quality to Anderson but an equally compelling one — a more defensive-minded operator with elite ball-winning statistics who could provide the defensive screen that United's midfield has occasionally lacked even in their improved run under Carrick. He also carries the experience of Champions League football at Newcastle, something relevant as United push to return to the top table of European football.
Newcastle are under no obligation to sell but, with Gordon also potentially departing, face financial decisions that may make retaining all of their top assets simultaneously difficult.
