- Manchester United in the market for Casemiro replacement
- Reds close to losing race for Elliot Anderson
- West Ham midfielder should be the ideal target over Sandro Tonali
As the summer transfer window rumours begin, Manchester United find themselves with crucial decisions to make in the recruitment department.
The Red Devils have been strongly linked with some high-profile Premier League names to replace Casemiro. However, reality has started to hit with certain targets, such as Elliot Anderson. The Nottingham Forest midfielder appears to be Manchester City-bound. The Blues have already had a substantial opening bid rejected by Nottingham Forest. As things stand, they are most likely to land the England international.
Rather than getting entangled in a bidding war with their neighbours, United must turn their attention to feasible targets. Fortunately, INEOS and Michael Carrick have plenty of targets on their midfield shortlist.
Does Sandro Tonali Fit United’s Vision?
To pull off a transformative summer that can get United playing ‘Carrick Ball’, United must snub a move for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.
The Red Devils have a firm interest in the Italian who could move on from Eddie Howe’s side. The Magpies are holding out for a staggering £100 million. However, spending a club record fee on a single player this summer would empty United’s budget.
Alternatively, a fantastic alternative has already been shining in the Premier League. Carrick’s side should swoop for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. The Hammers were relegated to the Championship on the final day. This means that a move is likely for the sake of the player’s aspirations, and in order to balance the club’s financial books.
The 21-year-old Portuguese star took the top flight by storm in 2025/26. He played 42 times, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists for a struggling side. His defensive tenacity and progressive passing ability make him an ideal target to sit next to Kobbie Mainoo. Despite not getting the call-up for his national side at the World Cup, he offers a taste of what the new-look midfield at Old Trafford could look like.
Fernandes Represents Better Value for Money
On the contrary, chasing Tonali for £100m is a transfer more suited to the olde regime at the club before INEOS. Paying an over-inflated premium for a star name rarely brings a lot of financial risk and pressure in a Champions League year.
The Italian would barely get a settling-in period, as Casemiro will soon depart. Being a club record transfer similarly didn’t go down well with Paul Pogba, who came with the expectation of scoring, assisting and defending altogether during his time at the club.
Although Fernandes would command a fee somewhere around £40m to £80m, the 21-year-old would be better value for money and represents a transfer closer to INEOS model signings. If United want to close the gap on the elite, they must start outsmarting their rivals in the market instead of chasing the same targets. For that reason, Fernandes is a better fit than Tonali as a starting midfielder.
