Manchester United have been handed a huge boost in their attempts to sign one of their key midfield targets this summer.
United are in the market for two central midfielders, with Casemiro definitely leaving at the end of his current contract at Old Trafford and Manuel Ugarte likely to be sold to free up funds for incoming signings.
A number of players have been linked over the past few months, although much would be dependent on whom the new permanent manager would be.
Will Elliot Anderson join Manchester United?
Elliot Anderson points the way for Nottingham Forest
Now that looks to have been sorted, with reports that United have reached a broad agreement with Michael Carrick to stay on following a successful period in interim charge of the club.
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson has always been the Red Devils’ number one priority in the summer transfer window and that remains the case, although United will have to pay big money to sign him with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis understood to be demanding more than £100million to come to the negotiating table.
But Carrick will expect to make a second signing alongside Anderson, or even complete two different deals, with Manchester City also in the race for Anderson’s signature, making things even more difficult for United.
And Sandro Tonali is a name that has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford, although talk of the Italian leaving St James’ park did go cold for some time.
Now, however, the 26-year-old could be back on the shortlist, with a report in TuttoMercatoWeb suggesting Newcastle have made him available for transfer.
GIVEMESPORT‘s senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs said this week: “Further down the list, still Sandro Tonali is seen as too expensive, despite being admired.”
That may well be the case, but according to TuttoMercatoWeb, United have been given the green light to enter into negotiations over Tonali, with Newcastle putting the player on the market, available for €100 million (£87million).
And if they were to sign him, it would certainly impress United legend Paul Scholes, who described Tonali as the best midfielder in the Premier League earlier this season, declaring him “better than Declan Rice”.
Why Newcastle are looking to sell key players
GMS understands that the Magpies will sanction at least one, maybe two sales of big-name players this summer as they look to maintain this position in complying with Financial Fair Play rules and also adhering to the new Premier League Squad Cost Rules that come into play this summer.
With no Champions League football revenue next season, the Magpies will have to be smart in the transfer window and a couple of big sales could pave the way for incoming signings to be made.
Anthony Gordon has interest from Bayern Munich, while Tino Livramento could move on, with Arsenal and Manchester City both showing an interest in the full-back.
But Tonali is now back on the agenda and the TuttoMercatoWeb report goes on to say that United are “ready to make a very high offer” to sign him.
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Manchester United and Manchester City are both keen on the Elliot Anderson alternative