Manchester United are unlikely to pursue a move to sign Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali this summer due to the overall cost of the deal, according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell.
The Red Devils have identified the need to strengthen their midfield department this summer, with Casemiro set to depart at the end of his contract, while Manuel Ugarte is also expected to leave after a lack of regular game time this season.
United are keen to add two new midfielders to the squad, possibly three if Ugarte leaves, and the club have been strongly linked with a move to sign the Italian as one of those options. However, it has now emerged that there may have been a change of plan.
Man Utd Unlikely to Pursue Tonali
Sandro Tonali
According to The Athletic, Man Utd targeted a deal for the 'superstar' midfielder last summer but the overall cost of a deal was deemed too expensive.
United had prioritised their attack last summer, spending over £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, which left them with around £50m to sign a new midfielder in their budget. However, Tonali's cost was in excess of that, and a deal was never formally pursued.
The club are expected to have more midfielders available this summer; however, Newcastle are expected to demand a big fee for their star man, and his wages on top of that fee mean that the club are now playing down the possibility of making a move to sign him once again.
It's also stated that there are some concerns over his gambling ban, and while the club remain interested, they are also considering a number of other options, including top target Elliot Anderson.
Is Tonali Worth Big Fee?
sandro tonali
Reports suggest that Newcastle are going to demand around £100m to let Tonali leave, which would obviously be a huge investment for the club, an is something they have to seriously consider before splashing the cash.
But the 25-year-old is someone who ticks all the boxes of an elite Premier League midfielder, and if United have the money to get a deal done then it's not something they should rule out just because of the fee.
GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT what a fair fee would be for Tonali this summer, and this was its response:
A fair fee for Sandro Tonali would be £85m–£95m.
Newcastle reportedly value him around £80m–£100m
Age (25), long contract, and Premier League pedigree push it high
Anything below £80m likely rejected; £90m feels realistic middle ground
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