Manchester City ready to enter €100m Tonali race after Maresca appointment
Quick summary
Manchester City are reportedly preparing to join the race for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali in a potential €100m deal, with Enzo Maresca's recent appointment linked to the interest.
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Attributed to original sourceReports in Italy claim that newly-appointed Manchester City head coach is targeting the signing of Italy international Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United as he begins life as the successor to Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
Maresca was officially appointed as the new head coach of Manchester City on Monday following a complicated and turbulent exit from Chelsea at the beginning of 2026. It is believed that City have had to pay around €20m in compensation to Chelsea and the West London outfit has also confirmed that Maresca himself has had to pay compensation due to the nature of his exit from the club in January.
Enzo Maresca signs on as new Manchester City manager Despite the back-and-forth between City and Chelsea, the matter is now done, Maresca is now the head coach at The Etihad, and reports indicate that he is ready to start plotting transfer moves ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Gazzetta: City ready to rival Tottenham and Arsenal for Tonali
According to Tuesday’s reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tonali is among the players that Maresca wants to bring to the club. The Pink Paper claims that City and Maresca want Tonali on top of England international Elliot Anderson, for whom a British-record €134m (£116m) fee has been agreed.
La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that City want to replace the departing Bernardo Silva and are also wanting to bring in adequate cover for Rodri, who is expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 season through surgery.
Maresca is not the only Italian head coach in the Premier League attempting to secure a deal for Tonali, though. Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham Hotspur have seen a €92m (£80m) bid rejected by Newcastle and according to reports on Monday, are prepared to increase their offer to just shy of the €100m mark (£86m).
Premier League champions Arsenal are also said to be interested in the potential signing of Tonali this summer.
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What happened
Manchester City are set to rival other top clubs for the signature of Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, currently at Newcastle United. The interest appears connected to the recent appointment of Enzo Maresca, who previously worked in Italy and is known to be an admirer of Tonali's profile. A €100m valuation has been cited, reflecting Tonali's status as one of the Premier League's most sought-after midfielders since his move from AC Milan. The development could significantly impact Newcastle's squad planning and intensify the bidding war for the Italian international.
Chance analysis
This is a high-value transfer rumor that could reshape the Premier League midfield landscape. Tonali's profile as a deep-lying playmaker fits the modern top-six requirement, and Manchester City entering the race raises the floor price considerably. The Maresca connection adds credibility but remains speculative. For Newcastle, losing Tonali would be a major blow to their midfield core, while Man City adding him would further deepen an already elite squad.
A potential €100m move could weaken Newcastle's midfield while significantly strengthening Manchester City's squad if completed.
Monitor Newcastle's midfield depth and Man City's transfer activity; a confirmed bid would weaken Newcastle and strengthen Man City's title credentials.