Manchester United are actively pursuing a midfield reinforcement in the upcoming summer transfer window, and their latest target has garnered high praise from club icon Paul Scholes, who considers him superior to Arsenal's Declan Rice.
United's Midfield Shortlist Expands
According to recent reports, Manchester United have included Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali on their list of potential midfield signings for the summer. The Red Devils are expected to seek at least one elite midfielder, with several names already linked to the club.
Other players under consideration include Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Brighton's Carlos Baleba, Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves, and Bournemouth duo Tyler Adams and Alex Scott. This comes as United prepare for the departure of veteran Casemiro, who will leave on a free transfer at the end of June.
Focus Shifts to Midfield After Summer Spending
Last summer, Manchester United allocated approximately £200 million to strengthen their forward line, acquiring Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. Now, attention has turned to bolstering the midfield, with Tonali emerging as a key target.
Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 for £55 million, is under contract until June 2029, with an option for an additional year. Despite his importance to the Magpies, recent speculation suggests he may be unsettled, with his agent, Giuseppe Riso, fueling transfer rumours last month after reports linked Tonali to Arsenal in January.
Scholes' High Praise for Tonali
Paul Scholes, a Manchester United legend, has publicly endorsed Tonali, declaring him the best midfielder in the Premier League. In an interview on The Overlap, Scholes discussed top midfielders, mentioning Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister before singling out Tonali.
"I love Sandro Tonali as well. He's been brilliant. Very good. I would probably choose Tonali at this point," Scholes stated. When pressed on whether Tonali surpasses Declan Rice, Scholes affirmed, "Yes, you're going to say Declan Rice but I think he's better than Rice. I really like Rice, don't get me wrong, I think he's got everything."
Scholes elaborated, "Sometimes he takes a few too many touches of the ball and tries to look a bit more stylish than necessary. He can do everything but I just don't think he does it enough. I prefer Tonali but they're both good players."
Transfer Dynamics and Newcastle's Situation
Newcastle currently sit 12th in the Premier League and are level with Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 tie, with the second leg approaching. Reports indicate that Tonali could seek an exit if Newcastle fail to qualify for European football next season, making him a viable target for Manchester United.
Riso commented on the situation, telling Tuttosport, "We'll evaluate and decide what to do in the summer. These transfer discussions will take place later. We'll see how the season ends and then we'll decide what to do. There's no preference at the moment. It's still early."
As the summer window approaches, Manchester United's interest in Sandro Tonali aligns with Scholes' high regard, potentially setting the stage for a significant transfer move that could reshape their midfield for the upcoming season.
