Man Utd are closing in on the signing of £86m world-class star

Sandro Tonali transfer news: United edge closer to Newcastle star

Sandro Tonali transfer news: According to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb, Manchester United are closing in on two major midfield signings this summer, Atalanta’s Ederson in a deal worth up to €50 million including add-ons, and a separate agreement with Newcastle United for Sandro Tonali that is reportedly nearing completion. The report, published on 24 May 2026, is significant given the outlet’s track record on Italian football business.

Tonali has firmly established himself as one of the finest midfielders in the Premier League since his £55 million move from AC Milan to Newcastle in July 2023. The 26-year-old Italian international has been outstanding for the Magpies, and United view him as the ideal Casemiro replacement after the Brazilian confirmed his exit from Old Trafford.

Sandro Tonali transfer news: What the numbers say?

Newcastle will demand over £75 million for Tonali, though reports indicate his camp is pushing for a move away from St James’ Park, which could soften the Magpies’ previously rigid stance. Michael Carrick, now confirmed as permanent manager, has reportedly urged the club to table an €80 million offer plus bonuses to test Newcastle’s resolve. Tonali is contracted until June 2028, giving Newcastle considerable control, and some reports previously suggested they would only entertain discussions above the £100 million mark.

Sandro Tonali transfer news: The Ederson factor

The Ederson deal, described by journalist Michele Criscitiello as “almost closed”, centres around a €48 million base fee with performance-related bonuses, and Atalanta’s manager confirmed in a post-match press conference that negotiations with a top club were very much ongoing. United’s INEOS ownership has shown a clear preference for players already proven in the Premier League, making Tonali’s familiarity with English football an attractive proposition.

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My honest opinion:

Spending €50 million on Ederson is sensible business. He is 26, contract-short, and proven at the highest level in Serie A. That part of United’s summer makes complete sense. However, pursuing Tonali immediately afterwards at a cost potentially exceeding £86 million raises a fair question: does Carrick genuinely need both, or is this ambition overriding pragmatism?

I feel that United will complete the Ederson deal first, and Tonali will remain at Newcastle this summer. Real Madrid are also tracking Tonali, and the competition for his signature, combined with Newcastle’s strong contract leverage until 2028, makes a deal extraordinarily difficult to finalise below £90 million.

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Carrick’s squad still needs a striker, a winger, and defensive reinforcements; spending close to £170 million on two midfielders in one window would be reckless. Ederson fills the Casemiro gap adequately. The Sandro Tonali transfer news story will almost certainly run deep into the summer, but United will ultimately walk away, at least for now.