Man Utd were expected to win the £80m race to sign a bigger talent than Anderson

A generation of Manchester United supporters have missed out on the football club’s glory days, and have had to listen to their elders about the success the side endured.

The Red Devils have now gone 13 years without a Premier League title, with no manager able to emulate the great Sir Alex Ferguson.

A number of managers have tried and failed at Old Trafford, with the Europa League title back in 2016/17 the highlight for fans since the Scot’s retirement.

However, the management has spent quite a bit of money trying to bring the club back to its former glory, but as seen in recent seasons in England’s top flight, it has not been successful.

This summer offers another opportunity for the board to get the right to recruit, with one senior position to be significantly strengthened before 2026/27.

Man Utd are determined to win the Premier League title race

The midfield door is one that looks set to be planted this summer, with Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson one player who has hinted at a move to United.

The 23-year-old has been one of the most sought-after talents at this stage this campaign, leading to Vitor Pereira’s side placing a £100m price tag on the midfielder’s head.

However, the Red Devils were not alone in their pursuit of the England international, with bitter rivals Manchester City, another respected club also currently interested.

Anderson is not the only option currently being considered by United’s management ahead of the summer, with Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali another player in their sights.

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils have been pursuing the Italian for the past few months, while Arsenal and Chelsea are also interested in the 25-year-old.

The report says that if everything is to happen during the summer, the Magpies star is expected to move to Old Trafford.

Any deal would be too expensive for the management, with an £80m price tag previously claimed for the Magpies star to leave St James’ Park.

Why Tonali could be a bigger talent than United’s Anderson

As previously mentioned, United’s interest in Anderson has been there for a long time, with constant checks being made regarding the summer transfer.

However, the Englishman’s hopes of moving to Old Trafford in the off-season are starting to fade, as rivals City are leading the race to sign him.

Missing out on Pep Guardiola’s men would be devastating, but a £100m price tag would be too steep if he spent two years as a regular Premier League starter.

There is no denying that he is a huge talent, as evidenced by his recent performances for the England national team, but it would certainly be a risk to break the club record for the 23-year-old.

Because of this, a move to Tonali would undoubtedly be a better move, especially given the 25-year-old’s experience in the Champions League – a competition that United could compete in next term.

The former AC Milan player has spent three years playing in the top division in England, which has made him choose to appear in this division more than Anderson in his career.

When comparing the figures of the different pairs in the ongoing campaign, Tonali has managed to stand out in many important areas – with many of his figures better than those displayed by the Englishman.

The Italian, described as “amazing” by journalist Chris Waugh, has completed more passes than Anderson – while creating more chances in 90.

The aforementioned figures undoubtedly show the Italian’s ability to decide the game from deep, something United have lacked in recent times.

He also completed some of the dribbles he had attempted in the Premier League this season, once again confirming his amazing ability with the ball at his feet.

Tonali has been able to finish on 54% of the floor contests he has entered so far this campaign, while also receiving 5.4 balls per 90.

His stats in and out of the game make him an ideal box-to-box option for the Red Devils in the coming years, with his knowledge vital to the club’s chances of success.

Anderson would be a fantastic addition for United, but ultimately, spending £100m on the Forest star would be risky given his lack of experience at the top of Europe.

Tonali’s deal will highlight that the Red Devils mean business ahead of next season, as the former AC Milan player has managed to significantly improve the midfield sector.

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