Earlier this week we reported that Sandro Tonali was edging towards a possible Newcastle exit and that Tottenham were among the clubs watching closely. The newer twist is Manchester City's stance: they are pushing for Tonali as part of a wider midfield rebuild, and they do not see him as a fallback option.

Why City want Tonali and Elliot Anderson together

Graeme Bailey told TEAMtalk that City have "long been heading the chase" for Tonali and have "reaffirmed their admiration" for him over the last week. He also said City made it clear during the process that they do not see Tonali as an alternative to Elliot Anderson, because they ideally want both.

That matters because City are also pursuing Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a separate move. It points to a broader midfield reset rather than a single big signing. The club finished second in the Premier League, and the scale of that rebuild is showing in the targets they are chasing.

Newcastle value Tonali at more than £100million. That price has not pushed City away, and the latest reports still place them firmly in the mix. Tonali’s recent form helps explain why he remains attractive, too. He has a 6.9 average rating across his last five Premier League outings and has played 420 minutes in those five matches.

Newcastle’s valuation has not cooled the interest

The money side of this is still messy. Ben Jacobs said Newcastle were braced for bids and expecting multiple suitors, with Spurs and City both in talks, while Newcastle were looking for around £100m including add-ons. That sits alongside the wider reporting that places Tonali’s valuation at more than £100million.

Tonali’s camp are also increasingly expecting an exit, and Bailey said his representatives believe Newcastle have known for some time that he is assessing his options. He added that they expect no surprises when a formal move eventually happens.

For now, nothing is agreed and nothing is completed. But City’s interest is being framed less as a rescue option for one player and more as a two-man midfield plan, with Tonali and Anderson both still in play.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →