The corridors of power at Old Trafford have just grown a little more imposing. GoalZaza can reveal that Manchester United have surged past both Arsena...
The corridors of power at Old Trafford have just grown a little more imposing. GoalZaza can reveal that Manchester United have surged past both Arsenal and Manchester City to become the frontrunners for the signature of Newcastle United and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali. This is a move that, just a few weeks ago, seemed a distant dream for United fans. Now, it is a very real possibility.For those of us who have watched the summer transfer market ebb and flow, the shift is staggering. Arsenal had long fancied Tonali as the perfect partner for Declan Rice, a player who can dictate tempo from deep with a pass that breaks lines. City, ever the pragmatists, saw him as a rotational piece for Rodri, a luxury they could afford. Yet United, having studied the market closely, have decided to throw the full weight of their ambition behind the Italian. Sources indicate that the club is prepared to table a bid in the region of £70 million to £80 million, a figure that Newcastle, despite their own financial muscle, will find very difficult to turn down.Why the urgency from United Because Erik ten Hag has identified a critical flaw in his engine room. The current midfield, for all its work rate in the low block, lacks the transitional quality to move the ball from defence to attack with the speed Tonali offers. He is not just a destroyer; he is a quarterback. The Geordie faithful will be sick to lose him, but when a club of United's stature starts jangling the keys with that kind of cash, the squeaky bum time begins at St. James' Park.What does this mean for Arsenal and City The Gunners will have to pivot to other targets, perhaps looking at a more creative profile to unlock stubborn defences. For City, it is a rare miss, but Guardiola will likely view it as a bullet dodged if the price inflates beyond their valuation. The real winner here, though, is the player himself. Tonali, who has shown tactical flexibility playing both as a regista and a box to box runner, now faces a choice between guaranteed trophies at City and a true footballing project at Old Trafford. Does he want the easy medals, or does he want to be the man who brings the glory days back to the Theatre of DreamsIt is a delicious dilemma. And if United pull this off, they will have not only beaten their two biggest domestic rivals to the punch, but they will have signed a player who could define their midfield for the next five years. The deal is not done yet, but as things stand, Old Trafford feels like his destination. Watch this space.
