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Man City and Man United are the leading contenders to sign Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to reports in the Italian media.
Newspaper Corriere Della Sera claims that the two Manchester clubs are the “most likely destinations” for the playmaker, who is expected to leave St James Park this summer.
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Tonali will reportedly be “sacrificed” due to the Premier League’s squad cost ratio (SCR) rules, with the Magpies needing to balance the books.
A fee in the region of £100m will be demanded for the Italian international, who has spent the last three seasons in the North East.
Arsenal are no longer frontrunners for Tonali
It was claimed back in January that the 25-year-old’s agent had offered the midfielder to the Gunners, but Mikel Arteta’s side weren’t in a position to make a move for him.
From the sound of things, they will not be competing for Tonali’s signature this summer either.
Other teams, including Juventus, have been mentioned as potential suitors, but Newcastle’s asking price means that a return to Italy is not considered a realistic possibility at this time.
If Tonali moves clubs over the next few months, the expectation is that he will join another Premier League team.
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Man City may devote funds to signing a different midfielder
While Tonali is thought to be on the radar of Director of Football Hugo Viana, most believe that the club’s priority is Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.
Ironically, the England international is also a target for rivals United, and he could cost in excess of £100m as well.
However, it is widely assumed that the Cityzens are leading the race for Anderson, and if Pep Guardiola‘s side do pay nine figures for a midfielder, the 23-year-old is seen as the most likely candidate.
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