Manchester United have reportedly informed Newcastle United that they will not compete with Tottenham Hotspur for the signing of midfielder Sandro Tonali, who appears set to depart St James’ Park this summer.

Tottenham are making a strong push to secure the Italian international, a player Newcastle boss Eddie Howe once compared to Andrea Pirlo. This has drawn attention from Ineos, who are exploring options to strengthen United’s midfield. However, despite strong fan interest, there has been no indication that United are attempting to intercept Spurs’ move for Tonali.

Given that Tonali has been viewed as one of Michael Carrick’s preferred midfield targets, United’s lack of activity in this situation has come as a surprise to supporters.

According to The Telegraph, the reasoning behind this stance is financial. The British publication reports that, “United were initially monitoring the situation, but have told Newcastle they will not enter the race to sign the former AC Milan star, because of the combined cost of the transfer fee and the player’s wage demands.”

This revelation suggests that Tonali joins Elliott Anderson among the midfielders United have chosen to pass on as they reshape their recruitment strategy.

Attention is now shifting towards other potential additions, as the club looks to complete a double midfield signing following their agreement for Ederson.

Mateus Fernandes is being considered as a possible marquee arrival, while Bournemouth’s Alex Scott also remains on United’s radar if a deal for the Portuguese talent materialises.

However, Scott’s price tag could prove prohibitive, which means a renewed attempt to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion cannot be dismissed. Personal terms with the Cameroonian midfielder are already understood to be in place, making him a viable alternative if the Scott deal falls through.

Should United manage to bring in Ederson, Fernandes, and either Scott or Baleba to play alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, their midfield could become one of the strongest units in the Premier League—and potentially across Europe.

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