Man Utd draw up stunning midfield transfer shortlist including Sandro Tonali and THREE England stars

SANDRO TONALI is on Manchester United’s shortlist of possible midfield targets.

Tonali, 25, is under contract until 2029 at Newcastle, with the option of an additional year.

With Newcastle out of both domestic cup competitions and facing elimination from the Champions League next week, they are in danger of failing to qualify for Europe next season.

United sources say Tonali is one of several Premier League-experienced midfielders that the club are monitoring.

Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba are among the Premier League-based midfielders of interest to United.

Sources say United would have to qualify for the Champions League to have a chance of signing Anderson or Wharton.

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Manchester City are regarded as the frontrunners for Nottingham Forest linchpin Anderson, who is expected to start for England at the World Cup.

Well-placed sources doubt whether United could compete with City to meet Anderson’s salary demands.

Crystal Palace are expected to cash in on Wharton, who could also make Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.

Baleba has struggled for Brighton this term after United enquired about his possible availability in the summer.

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Scott is regarded as a more attractive option by United than his teammate Tyler Adams, who is out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Anderson is 23 while Wharton, Scott and Baleba are all aged 22.

Ironically, former United sporting director Dan Ashworth was behind Tonali’s move to Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023.

Ashworth lasted five months at United before his sudden departure after he expressed misgivings about the appointment of Ruben Amorim.

Italy international Tonali served a ten-month ban between October 2023 and August 2024 for breaching the Italian Football Federation’s betting rules.

During his suspension, Tonali signed a one-year extension to his Newcastle deal as he wanted to repay the faith the club had shown him.

United have not bought a player from Newcastle since the then-British record arrival of Andrew Cole for £7million in January 1995.

Man Utd legend Paul Scholes recently came under fire for an Instagram post that was seen as a sideswipe at Michael Carrick.

But that post did suggest he would be delighted if Tonali were to move to Old Trafford.

It read: “Michael has definitely got something special about him… Cos Utd have been CRAP last 4 games… Night! Tonali [heart emoji]”

Scholes’ pal Nicky Butt later said the former Champions League winner was “shocked and gutted” with how his post had been interpreted.

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