Man United is alarmed as Man City targets two players sought by Manchester United for summer signings, following Pep's plan to strengthen the squad.
On 2 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Team Talk, a well-known sports media outlet, reported that Manchester City, a wealthy Premier League club, is preparing to pursue Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali in competition with local rivals Manchester United this summer.
Sandro Tonali, 25, has been consistently linked with a move away from Newcastle United if they fail to qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League. Tonali wants to continue playing at the highest level, but Newcastle currently sit 12th, seven points behind the expected fifth-place qualifying spot with only seven matches remaining.
Previously, Manchester United clearly expressed their desire to sign Tonali to replace Casemiro, whose contract expires in June, and planned to make an official offer after this season ends.
However, recent sources reveal that Manchester City has intensified its interest in Tonali and plans to sign him for next season after Bernardo Silva's contract expires and he leaves the club. Meanwhile, Rodri, with one year left on his contract, is also ready to move, with increasing links to Real Madrid lately.
At the same time, Giuseppe Riso, Tonali's agent, has contacted major European clubs, including Real Madrid, to explore transfer options. Tonali wants to return to Italy's Serie A, but clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus may not meet the £80-100 million valuation.
This suggests Tonali is likely to continue playing in the Premier League, while Manchester City plans to overhaul their midfield, ready to let Mateo Kovacic and Kalvin Phillips leave as well.
If Manchester City loses Bernardo Silva or Rodri, they are highly likely to pursue Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson, both primary targets of Manchester United, setting the stage for a fierce battle between the two Manchester clubs in the summer transfer market.
