Manchester United are willing to make an official bid for Newcastle United's Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali at the end of the season, a report claimed. While Tonali is not up in arms to leave St James' Park, he is not very thrilled about staying either, given the club's mediocre run, it added.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton's insistence on choosing local rivals Manchester City over United means Tonali has been promoted as the midfielder the club is most interested in signing, the report said.
Apart from the scouts and management higher-ups, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is also excited by the prospect of the former AC Milan midfielder being targeted, TEAMtalk said in a report. Fernandes loves the Italian for what he has achieved over the course of the ongoing campaign, the report said.
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While United are clear front-runners, there are several others who are interested in the defensive midfielder. However, a return to his homeland is ruled out as things stand, as Serie A teams cannot afford his price tag. As per TEAMtalk, the overall asking price for Tonali could be around £100 million (€116 million, $132 million). United are reportedly prepared to raise this sum, but Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich may pounce, given the chance.
Meanwhile, another report claimed that while the Magpies would love to keep their player, the club had earlier promised Tonali that he would be allowed to leave this summer if the team failed to seal a Champions League spot. They are currently 12th in the Premier League, seven points off the top five, while a rejuvenated United look well on course for a top-four finish.
With Casemiro leaving, the 25-year-old could be the perfect replacement in the heart of the Old Trafford midfield. The profile fits the club's needs perfectly, and it has already been confirmed that United are looking to bring in at least two new signings to further strengthen their midfield ahead of next season.
