Man Utd are in talks to sign the £100m midfielder

Will Ederson be the only replacement for Casemiro this summer? If so, Manchester United did well to land him for a reported £39m.

In a day and age where Premier League players are well off and highly respected, it is seen as a strong part of Jason Wilcox and Co.’s business.

No matter how good that goes from a business perspective, they need to look at investing more in the middle of the field. Supporters want a marquee addition, someone like Elliot Anderson.

However, a certain level of realism has been applied in this situation. Nottingham Forest are said to be looking at a British record transfer fee for the player and Manchester City are on the table.

So, who could they get instead?

Man Utd have lined up another exciting Elliot Anderson move

If United could pick any player in the Premier League to sign this summer, it looks like it would be Anderson.

This English player has built a reputation as one of the best players in this category and he will play with Declan Rice in the center of England’s field in the upcoming World Cup.

It is said that he is facing the dreams of the team, but as the weeks go on, it seems that it is something that will not happen for the Red Devils. They will find it hard to beat City for his signature.

As a result, alternatives have been sought. United are said to have already agreed personal terms with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but are downsizing in terms of priorities. Adam Wharton and Mateus Fernandes are two other approaches from the Premier League.

Perhaps one of the most exciting options is Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali. The club’s interest in the Italian is no secret and they would love to do a deal if he is not worth a whopping £100m.

The latest on the midfielder’s future comes from TEAMtalk who report that Tonali’s dream is to return to Italy and play for AC Milan again.

That, however, sounds unlikely and Premier League teams are still lagging behind. United, City and Arsenal are said to have kept in touch with the player’s camp regarding his situation. They all test whether a move is possible later in the window when the price tag can go down.

They also face other competition from Inter and Juventus who also admire the midfielder.

How does Tonali compare to Kobbie Mainoo

The situation surrounding Kobbie Mainoo has been amazing. Six months ago it looked like his Man United career was over and quiet.

Strangely, Ruben Amorim did not want to play with him. From August 2025 until the end of Amorim’s time in the Premier League in mid-January, the English coach did not start a single league game.

However, Carrick looked to rectify that quickly and brought Mainoo in from the cold. He was an important player as well, one of the first names on the team sheet.

The 21-year-old has not only started every game he has been available for, but has played 90 minutes in every game of Carrick’s tenure apart from the defeat to Leeds, one of which he missed through injury.

The World Cup will face England, there is no doubt that Mainoo will be important again in the coming term but who will work with him? Will it be Ederson or Tonali? Well, in the case of the Italian, they will be signing a player with very similar qualities.

While the Carrington student enjoys going a little further, Tonali is perhaps reserved but their general characteristics are very similar.

There is a subtle difference between the two. Mainoo makes a lot of tackles and will prove to be a strong duel winner.

However, the best qualities of both these players is their resistance to pressure. That not only allows them to win a lot of mistakes, but it also means that they are good at handling the ball.

It also means that United can get through the lines more effectively. Mainoo is very good at that and they could add another layer of strength to their midfield group by signing Tonali.

He may not bring the muscles that Casemiro brings but he is “one of the best players in the world” in the words of his agent, Beppe Riso, so he has a smart pedigree.

£100m is quite a lot if they already have Mainoo in their ranks but if they could drop the price, it would be a special signing.