Man United Walked Away From Tonali and Now Their Ederson Deal Looks Like a Bargain

Manchester United sat down, did the math on Sandro Tonali, and decided the number didn’t work. That move looks smarter by the day.

While Arsenal and Manchester City were reportedly circling the Italian midfielder earlier this spring, United let the race play out without them. According to the Mirror, the club told Newcastle they weren’t interested in matching the combined transfer fee and wage package. Tonali would simply cost too much.

Fast forward a few weeks, and Tottenham came knocking. Manager Roberto De Zerbi, working on a major squad overhaul after Spurs barely avoided a relegation scare this season, put in a bid around £80 million. Newcastle said no. Sky Sports reported the offer was rejected outright. La Gazzetta dello Sport has previously pegged Newcastle’s asking price for the 26-year-old at €115 million, or roughly £100 million.

So United’s decision to step back doesn’t look like a retreat anymore. It looks like they knew what they were doing.

Ederson is basically done

The club’s actual midfield target is Ederson, the Atalanta midfielder, and that deal is close to a wrap. United agreed to a fee in the neighborhood of £35 million earlier this month. The Brazilian spoke to Tuttosport after his national team’s 3-0 win over Haiti at the World Cup and basically confirmed the move.

“It’s practically almost all sorted,” Ederson said. “I have to make the most of this moment. I am here and it is a wonderful thing, something you must always live to the fullest.”

That’s not the language of a player waiting on a decision. That’s a guy who knows his bags are packed.

United’s midfield needs a reset. Casemiro’s exit becomes official at the end of this month, and new head coach Michael Carrick has made it clear this summer’s priority is rebuilding that part of the roster. Ederson isn’t the flashiest name on the market, but for £35 million, he’s a lot cheaper than the alternatives.

Tonali might be the bigger name, but United looked at the pricetag and chose a different path. Given how the Tonali bidding has played out since, that path looks like the right one.