Manchester City are giving genuine consideration to signing Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali as well as Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Tottenham have held productive talks with Tonali’s camp and want to make the Italian their major signing this summer, but face serious competition from City, who have continued to track the player.
City’s interest in Tonali, 26, does not affect their plans to sign Anderson and they remain in talks with Nottingham Forest about a potential British record transfer.
Signing both midfielders, for what would likely be a combined cost of over £200million ($268m), comes with City seeking to build a side for Enzo Maresca, Pep Guardiola’s successor, that can challenge for next season’s Premier League title.
City have also seen Bernardo Silva depart for Real Madrid on a free transfer and are waiting to hear from fellow midfielder Rodri about whether he wants to stay at the club in the post-Guardiola era.
Rodri, who is in the last year of his contract, is at the World Cup with the Spain national team. The former Ballon d’Or winner has said he will wait until after the end of the tournament before announcing his decision.
Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi is an admirer of Tonali and Tottenham have made the strongest move this summer for a player whose representatives also spoke to Arsenal in February.
City, however, are very much in the reckoning and have not been deterred by the huge sums of money that would be involved.
Summer of change at City?
Analysis from Manchester City correspondent Sam Lee
City’s interest in Tonali sits alongside their interest in Anderson, 23, and suggests that big changes are afoot in the midfield at the Etihad Stadium.
City are in the market for reinforcements given Bernardo Silva’s exit, while Nico Gonzalez could also depart, and there is some uncertainty around Tijjani Reijnders.
But a serious push for Tonali, who would cost upwards of £80m, suggests that Rodri is on his way out, if not now then next summer. The 29-year-old Spaniard has been offered a new deal and City are desperate to keep him, but it does not currently appear that he will commit his future to the club.
That could mean a transfer this summer is best from a financial point of view, although Real Madrid, considered his most likely destination, appear to have no concrete interest in doing a deal.
City have been tracking Tonali for some time but would have a fight on their hands to sign him, given there is strong rival interest from others, including Tottenham, so there is a long way to go in this one.
But it does highlight that this will be a big summer of change at City.