Arsenal want to sign £100m midfielder ahead of Man Utd and Man City | Football

Arsenal remain interested in signing Sandro Tonali with Manchester City also making him a top transfer target if they fail to sign Elliot Anderson.

The Gunners plan to reinforce their midfield this summer, also eager to sign a right-back, a left winger and another striker following on from their Premier League title triumph.

Tonali was offered to Arsenal late on in the January transfer window and while no talks took place with Newcastle United at the time, Fabrizio Romano reports the champions could now make a move for the Italy international.

Tonali, who is valued at close to £100million by the Magpies, is also an option City will explore this summer.

Anderson is a top target at the Etihad with City making their first move for the England international this week. An opening offer has been rejected by Nottingham Forest who are looking for a fee that could exceed the £105m Arsenal spent to sign Declan Rice three years ago.

Talks remain ongoing between the two clubs as City consider their next offer.

Manchester United are also interested in Anderson with the 23-year-old leading a shortlist of targets that also includes Aurelien Tchouameni, Mateus Fernandes, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba.

Anderson is said to favour a move to the Etihad but should City be unable to agree a fee, they will turn to Tonali who is also held in very high regard on the blue half of Manchester.

City, Arsenal and United find themselves competing in the transfer market for many of the same names with each side looking to add an established option in the middle of the park.

With Bernardo Silva following Pep Guardiola out the door, City need more options with Rodri also thought to be a target for Real Madrid.

‘With a World Cup ahead, my responsibility is to stay focused,’ Rodri said this week. ‘Anything related to my future will wait until after the World Cup.’

United meanwhile need a major rebuild in midfield following Casemiro’s exit with Manuel Ugarte also tipped to leave Old Trafford. They want at least two new options with a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta in place.

Arsenal meanwhile also want another player with to compete with Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard after an exhausting 2025-26 campaign fighting on four fronts.

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