Transfer news: Manchester United close in on Tonali as Carrick targets midfield rebuild

Transfer news: Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb. The report, which surfaced on 25 May 2026, states that the Red Devils are near an agreement with Newcastle over a transfer fee, with the 26-year-old emerging as the first signing that newly appointed permanent head coach Michael Carrick specifically wants at Old Trafford.

Carrick, who signed a two-year deal on 22 May after guiding United to a third-place Premier League finish and Champions League qualification, identified Tonali alongside Atalanta’s Éderson as the two men he believes can completely transform his midfield this summer. Newcastle initially set an asking price of £100 million to deter every interested party, including Arsenal, Manchester City, and Juventus, but that figure has softened considerably.

Reports now suggest a bid in the region of £70–80 million could seal the deal, particularly since Newcastle failed to qualify for European football next season and face real financial pressure to raise funds. Respected Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio separately reported that United are pushing hard and remain confident of getting the transfer done.

Tonali, who earns around £150,000 per week at Newcastle and carries a total annual package of around £8 million including bonuses, has also reportedly been pushing for an exit since January. A gentleman’s agreement reportedly exists between the player and the club that he would be allowed to leave for a top European side if Newcastle missed out on continental football, a condition that now applies.

Transfer news verdict: Is this a good deal for Carrick?

This is, on balance, a genuinely sound piece of business for Carrick, provided INEOS does not overpay. Tonali brings everything a modern box-to-box midfielder needs: elite technical ability, physicality, and a relentless work-rate that Carrick, a metronomic midfielder himself, clearly values. At 26, the Italian sits in the prime years of his career and comes with over 100 Premier League appearances, strong Italy international experience, and an intimate knowledge of how to survive the physical demands of English football.

Carrick’s United side finished third largely on defensive solidity and transition play, so adding a midfield engine who can dominate the centre of the pitch makes logical sense as the next step. The concern, however, is the transfer fee; paying £80 million for a player who still has three years left on his contract and no release clause is a considerable gamble for a club still working within tight financial constraints.

Michael Carrick hints at £46m transfer news deal

Furthermore, Tonali’s previous ten-month betting ban, though served in full, adds a layer of reputational risk. Still, if United genuinely secure him closer to £70 million, that represents fair market value for a player of his calibre in today’s inflated transfer landscape. The partnership with Éderson could give Carrick a formidable midfield foundation, and that ambition alone marks real, clear progress.