United’s pursuit of 85m wizard rocked, he is “ready to make a move” to major PL rival instead – Fabrizio Romano

Manchester United are eyeing several Premier League-proven midfielders this summer, including Newcastle United maestro Sandro Tonali. However, the latest update on the Italian’s future will not please Red Devils fans. INEOS enjoyed tremendous success in last summer’s transfer window and will be keen to repeat the trick this year with the midfield. A capable replacement for Casemiro is on the agenda, with recent reports suggesting Atalanta’s Ederson is all set to arrive at Old Trafford. The focus is now on adding Premier League-proven quality to Michael Carrick’s midfield, especially with Manuel Ugarte likely to leave as well. Recent reports have linked United with a move for West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes. However, the 21 year old is hardly the finished article and INEOS could be tempted to add more Premier League experience to the squad. With Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson expected to join Manchester City, Tonali has emerged as an option for the Red Devils. United enticed by Tonali’s Premier League credentials Tonali has been indispensable for Newcastle United since arriving from AC Milan in 2023. The Italian has amassed 79 appearances in the Premier League, registering five goals and four assists. Tonali combines defensive alertness with box-to-box drive and is assured with his passing, attributes that have endeared him to the Old Trafford hierarchy. Last season, Tonali registered three goals and seven assists in 53 appearances across all competitions for the Magpies. Sandro Tonali Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League3531-24-2,545′ UEFA Champions League1111112-955′ EFL Cup42-21-219′ FA Cup3322–300′ Total5347377-4,019′ Source: Transfermarkt. The 25 year old is under contract with the Magpies until 2028, and United are keeping a close watch on his situation. However, recent reports suggested that City are also interested in Tonali’s signature, and acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano has now provided another concerning update on the player. Tottenham Hotspur in the driving seat Sharing the news on social media, Romano said that Tottenham have entered the race to sign Tonali this summer. He wrote: “EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham have entered the race to sign Sandro Tonali!” “De Zerbi wants Tonali as new star for the midfield, ideal to step up #THFC level. Spurs ready to face Man City and Arsenal in the race for Tonali for new ambitious project to prove their intentions.” Just as United fans were coming to terms with the news, the Italian journalist dropped another bombshell. Sharing an update on his YouTube channel, Romano insisted that the Italian midfielder is ready to move to Spurs this summer. He said: “Sandro Tonali is keen on a move to Tottenham; he is ready to make a move to Spurs. Tonali is attracted by the project and wants to play under De Zerbi, as they share a very close connection, even without Europe! Could take £85m package.” Final Thoughts If Tonali wants to join Tottenham, United may be fighting a losing battle in attempting to convince him to move to the Theatre of Dreams. INEOS, instead, should redirect all their resources into completing a move for Mateus Fernandes. 🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham have entered the race to sign Sandro Tonali! 💣🇮🇹 De Zerbi wants Tonali as new star for the midfield, ideal to step up #THFC level. Spurs ready to face Man City and Arsenal in the race for Tonali for new ambitious project to prove their intentions. pic.twitter.com/Y1PGAClq8F — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 15, 2026 Feature image Carl Recine 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 Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.