Any hope Manchester United supporters had of keeping Casemiro at the club were dashed on Saturday.
The Brazilian revealed a few months ago that he would be leaving Old Trafford behind at the conclusion of his contract this summer, but after something of a renaissance in United colours this season, many at the club hoped he’d sign a new deal.
Yet, all good things must come to an end with the midfielder once again confirming his exit this weekend. That said, this does feel like the right time for him to leave. After all, it always felt as though this year was going to be the one that INEOS and Co finally bolstered the midfield.
So, how do you go about doing that? Well, they have already been linked with some of the best in the country.
Man United’s midfield shortlist
Two names have cropped up more than most in recent months; Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton. They will no doubt come at a premium, not just because they are young, but very rarely does a highly-rated English player go for cheap.
Anderson was described as United’s ‘dream’ target earlier in the week but the Nottingham Forest midfielder is not the only big-money target on their radar now.
Indeed, it’s also thought that the Red Devils are looking at not just Bruno Guimaraes but also Sandro Tonali. Reports a few weeks ago suggested that United were in ‘advanced talks’ to sign the former but those claims have since been beaten away.
Well, according to new reports from Centre Devils, Man United are now believed to have opened talks with the entourage of Tonali.
Up to this point, it looked as though they were merely monitoring the midfielder’s situation but it would appear as though they have been given encouragement during talks, with it stated that ‘Tonali is understood to be open to the possibility of a move’
The trouble from a negotiation standpoint is that previous reports have suggested it may take as much as £100m to prise him away from Newcastle.
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Why Tonali could be Man United’s best signing in years
Manchester United may have a rich history, but it’s safe to say their recent past, as far this great club are concerned, has been troubling.
The Erik ten Hag reign saw silverware return to Old Trafford but for the vast majority of the Dutchman’s reign, it was something of a disaster. The less said about Ruben Amorim’s tenure the better too.
You perhaps have to go back to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reign to find a semblance of consistency. Funnily enough, that was when they signed Bruno Fernandes.
During the Covid-hit campaign of 2019/20, the Portuguese arrived for a £67m fee and boy has he repaid that since.
With 320 games, 106 goals and 103 assists under his belt, Fernandes has easily been one of the best pieces of business United have ever conducted and it only just feels like they are getting things right again.
For years, the club’s transfer business was full of mediocrity; Jadon Sancho, Antony and Andre Onana all spring to mind. Yet, they are now attacking the Premier League market hard again, just as they did during the illustrious Sir Alex Ferguson reign.
Last summer, they welcomed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. This summer they could welcome Tonali and there’s a slim chance of this one going wrong.
Man Utd’s Premier League investment since Bruno
Player
Signed from
Tom Heaton
Aston Villa
Wout Weghorst
Burnley (loan)
Martin Dubravka
Newcastle (loan)
Christian Eriksen
Brentford
Mason Mount
Chelsea
Jonny Evans
Leicester
Sergio Reguilon
Spurs (loan)
Bryan Mbeumo
Brentford
Matheus Cunha
Wolves
While the Italian may have had a ban for betting offences, his performances on the field of play are difficult to question. In the words of Toon reporter Joel Bland, he’s “one of the best midfielders in Europe” and it’s easy to see why.
While Tonali might not offer many goals – he has just ten in 104 outings for the Magpies – his class, precision and composure on the ball is second to none.
This is a proven Premier League player, one of the best in the league. He is not as physical as Casemiro, nor has he won multiple Champions League titles like Casemiro, but at the age of just 25, he offers a set of well-rounded attributes to take Michael Carrick’s team, or whoever it might be, to the next level.
Tonali is not going to bulldoze his way through a game and he’s not going to be the same sort of threat as Fernandes, but he could allow the club captain to do his job without worrying about what’s behind him.
In the Champions League this season, the Italy international ranks among the best 25% of midfielders for possession won in the final third. He also ranks inside the top 12% compared to positionally similar players for the number of times he gets dribbled past per 90 minutes (0.38).
A disruptor and fine reader of the game, he can contribute effectively in the final third too. In Europe’s premier competition, Tonali is among the finest 17% for chance creation.
£100m may well be a steep price tag, but like when Arsenal splashed a pretty equal amount to sign Declan Rice, this could end up looking like a bargain in a few years’ time.
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