Man Utd urged to finish £100m transfer move ahead of Arsenal | Football

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has encouraged the club to pursue a possible move for Sandro Tonali in the summertime transfer window.

The Red Devils prioritised overhauling their misfiring attack last summer, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko arriving through the doors at Old Trafford for a combined fee of around £200million.

Club bosses had also been keen to herald a deep-lying midfielder to suit Ruben Amorim’s much-maligned 3-4-3 system, reportedly identifying Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba as potential targets.

Brighton have since confirmed United’s interest in Baleba on the back of an exceptional season for the 22-year-old Cameroon international last term on the Amex Stadium.

But in line with Brighton CEO Tony Bloom, United simply ‘went away’ when informed that Baleba wouldn’t be sold unless an astronomical fee was offered for the previous Lille man.

Despite Amorim’s departure as head coach, United remain available in the market for a midfielder within the mold of Baleba – and the likes of Joao Gomes and Ruben Neves were also linked over the course the January transfer window.

If it were as much as Meulensteen, though, Newcastle duo Tonali and Joelinton should each be on United’s radar as options who ‘could fit the bill’ on the Theatre of Dreams.

Widespread reports claimed Arsenal made an approach for Tonali following an injury to Mikel Merino last month, but Newcastle made it clear the Italian was not on the market. It’s understood the Magpies have since slapped an asking price of £100m on their prized possession.

‘Sandro Tonali is a very good player and he’s done rather well for Newcastle,’ Meulensteen told BetGoat.

‘The rumours I heard were that he possibly wanted to return to Italy, but he’s definitely a very good player who understands learn how to play that role in midfield and he’s a very good passer of the ball.

‘Manchester United definitely must look into that position and what they need, I believe they might have a look at Joelinton in that position. He obviously got here there as a forward and Eddie Howe has dropped him and turned him into this massive motor in midfield.

‘He’s an excellent player that has been learning from Bruno Guimaraes who’s a pacesetter, a powerful character, a winner.

‘He’s possibly hard to get, but he could all fit the bill for my part.

‘Having said that, so does Adam Wharton because he’s so good at playing forward and that is strictly what the forwards would thrive on at Manchester United. Elliot Anderson again, great.’

But while Meulensteen recognises United’s apparent weakness at the bottom of the midfield, he can be wary about forcing Kobbie Mainoo out of the side again – as was the case under Michael Carrick’s predecessor Amorim.

‘There are such a lot of, there’s plenty on the market,’ Meulensteen, certainly one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most trusted lieutenants, added.

‘But you wouldn’t need to bring too many in since you don’t want Kobbie Mainoo to find yourself back on the bench again.

‘He’s proven in those games that Michael Carrick has played him and he has all the precise to maintain playing and improving since you’ve got an excellent player there.’

After the incessant rumours linking him with Arsenal towards the top of January, Tonali appeared to reaffirm his commitment to Newcastle together with his animated goal celebration within the side’s FA Cup win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

Tonali, who scored twice in a 3-1 victory at Villa Park, later explained: ‘The primary one, this celebration was, I believe, seven months without scoring; in the event you don’t rating for seven months, after the primary goal, you have fun for 10 or 11 goals – like Bruno [Guimaraes]!

‘But after the second goal, I got here to Eddie [Howe] because previously few weeks, people spoke about our relationship, but I work each day with the gaffer, the gaffer works each day with me, and our relationship is ideal. It’s not broken and I believe this is ideal for the team.

‘We attempt to do one of the best for this team, every game, because we play a variety of games – every three days, we play, and we have now to be concentrated each time within the training ground to do one of the best for our team.’

Tonali has made 96 appearances in all competitions across his three-year spell with Newcastle and got his hands on some silverware last season as Howe’s men lifted the Carabao Cup.

A ten-month ban – after Tonali was found to have breached Italian betting regulations – meant the midfielder played just eight league games within the debut season at St James’ Park.

Tonali’s current contract with the Toon runs through to June 2028, with the choice of an additional 12 months.

Arsenal are usually not the one team to have explored a possible bid for Tonali, with Serie A giants Juventus also known to be long-term admirers of the previous Brescia and AC Milan man.

In a recent interview with Tuttosport, Sandro’s agent, Giuseppe Riso insisted the Italy international was yet to make a choice regarding his future beyond the top of the season.

Asked if Tonali could possibly be set to return to the Italy in the summertime, Riso replied: ‘There’s no preference immediately.

‘It’s still early. What we’re saying today won’t apply tomorrow.

‘Newcastle couldn’t part with him now and it wasn’t value moving, especially since Sandro may be very attached to the club.

‘We’ll evaluate things in the summertime and judge what to do.’

Riso added: ‘Newcastle is having a tough time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to steer the club into the Champions League,’

‘These transfer discussions will happen later.’

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