Decision made: Man United identify top midfield target, Scholes claims he is better than Rice & Caicedo

Manchester United are exploring various targets as they seek to bolster their midfield in the summer.

A defensive midfielder is high on their priority list, given the impending departure of Casemiro.

Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are the Red Devils’ top targets to replace the veteran Brazil international.

Journalist Matteo Moretto now reports that Tonali is United’s priority midfield target. He added that the possibility of a deal will become clearer in the coming weeks.

Rivals Manchester City are also said to be monitoring the Newcastle United star, who has been valued at around £100 million.

United will reportedly make a formal approach for Tonali at the end of the season. Captain Bruno Fernandes has backed the move for the Italy international.

Tonali joined Newcastle in the summer of 2023 from AC Milan. A betting ban sidelined him for months, preventing him from having a flying start for the Magpies.

He has since established himself as a vital player for them. He played a key role in their Carabao Cup triumph last term — their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.

With Newcastle unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, Tonali could be open to joining Man United, who are now poised to secure qualification for Europe’s biggest club competition.

Former United midfielder Paul Scholes claims Tonali is the Premier League’s best midfielder, ahead of Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo.

The former Milan star is not a natural defensive midfielder like Casemiro, but has the offensive and defensive attributes to be a good addition for United.

Tonali boasts good anticipation, averaging 0.9 interceptions per game in the league this term — the most of any Newcastle midfielder. Only Jacob Murphy has registered more big chances than him.

Stats from sofascore.com

Article written by Henry Thornton .