Arsenal hold talks to sign PL monster but he has already agreed to join United – report

Manchester United face a fierce transfer race with Arsenal to strike a deal for Newcastle United maestro Sandro Tonali, according to the latest reports from Italy. Carrick’s first-choice target Despite a move for Ederson — Atalanta and Brazil’s 26-year-old dynamo — being at an advanced stage, Michael Carrick is understood to have identified Tonali as his priority target to revamp the midfield. With Casemiro’s time at Old Trafford having come to an end and Manuel Ugarte’s head on the chopping block, United are intent on signing up to three midfielders this summer. The leading contenders are Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni, though pursuits for either are considered increasingly unlikely. This has led to Tonali re-emerging as an option after initial interest cooled in the wake of Newcastle United’s prohibitive £100 million valuation. The Magpies are said to now be willing to accept fees in the region of £85 million for the Italy international. A report relayed by The Peoples Person claimed United were close to sealing a deal with the Tyneside club, with a separate update confirming the plan to add a “marquee midfielder” alongside the capture of Ederson. Italian outlet Calcio Mercato states “several sources” in England believe United have “reached an agreement” on personal terms with Tonali, with INEOS “ready to launch a decisive assault” for the Lodi native. Arsenal hold talks Tutto Mercato Web reports Arsenal have now launched their own raid on St James’ Park after opening talks with Newcastle United in the last few days. The Gunners, crowned as Premier League champions at Selhurst Park on Sunday for the first time in 22 years, are not resting on their laurels, with Mikel Arteta already pushing for reinforcements next season. Aston Villa wizard Morgan Rogers is a player on United’s radar as a potential long-term successor to Bruno Fernandes, but Arteta is said to be “personally leading” a drive to sign the England international. And it now appears a similar attempt is being made to muscle in on the Red Devils’ deal for Tonali, with Arsenal having previously made overtures to sign the 26-year-old Italian in January. Final Thoughts In the absence of options like Anderson or Tchouaméni, Tonali is one of the select few targets on Manchester United’s wish list with the requisite balance of physical and technical attributes to thrive in midfield. To lose out on him to Arsenal would be a major blow that INEOS simply cannot afford to let happen. Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.