- Manchester United midfield rebuild in doubt
- Manchester City is honing in on two of United’s shortlisted candidates
- The two midfielders could cost a combined £190 million
Manchester United’s potential pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson faces fresh uncertainty, as rivals Manchester City prepare to stake their claim for both Premier League talents.
Both clubs are aiming to rebuild their midfield, with Tonali and Anderson topping the summer wish-lists for each side.
The combined fee for the pair could reach around £190 million, with both United and City keen to plug gaps created by departures. United are set to replace Casemiro, while City could lose Rodri and Bernardo Silva this summer.
Securing the signatures of these two stars would not only strengthen a squad significantly but also provide priceless bragging rights over their local rivals.
A Manchester Race is on
According to Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk, Manchester City are ready to position themselves firmly in the hunt for Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson as they prepare to overhaul their midfield with two blockbuster Premier League deals.
With Rodri a target for Spanish behemoths, Real Madrid, and Silva likely to move on, City will need two midfield starters to reshape the core of their squad.
United, on the other hand, will be looking to replace five-time Champions League winner Casemiro, whilst strengthening their engine room.
There have been reports that Tonali is eyeing a departure from the North-East of England, with manager Eddie Howe admitting that he is “not in control” of the Italians future.
Despite that, Howe reassured the Newcastle faithful that, “Sandro’s very happy here. He’s got a great relationship with me and his teammates and he seems really, really, happy within himself.
“If I knew where everything [rumours] came from I’d be wiser. But Sandro is absolutely fine. I had discussions with him yesterday. His focus is on the here and now with us.”
Tonali has not actively pushed for a move yet, but the Italian’s camp has been exploring potential opportunities. Anderson is the other pick of the bunch for both City and United, with the England star expected to leave Nottingham Forest this summer.
The Englishman left Newcastle in the summer of 2024 for £35 million to comply with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. He is now expected to reach a fee of £100 million as Forest look to capitalise on their investment.
Could United win the race?
Manchester United will face a tough challenge in beating Manchester City to secure both Anderson and Tonali. It remains unclear who will be in the dugout for United in the 2026/27 season, a factor that could heavily influence the club’s summer recruitment strategy.
While Carrick increasingly looks set to remain head coach, any player uncertain about who they will be playing under may choose to explore opportunities elsewhere.
If United cannot secure Anderson and Tonali, they may pursue secondary options instead. Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and Mateus Fernandes of West Ham both impress scouts, though neither yet matches the calibre of the primary targets.
