Man City scout holding midfielder that Liverpool, Man Utd are pinning hopes on

Sandro Tonali TEAMtalk

Manchester City scouts went to watch Brescia midfielder Sandro Tonali last night, according to a report in Italy.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Nicolo Schira tweeted that City and Paris Saint-Germain scouts watched the 19-year-old in action.

Tonali played the full 90 minutes, his seventh Serie A start of the season in a defensive midfield role, as Brescia and Fiorentina drew 0-0.

The Italy international could not add to his two assists this season, but his stock around Europe is high with the report claiming fellow Serie A side AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus also monitoring the youngster.

Last month Manchester United were reported to be tracking Tonali, with Sport Mediaset referring to him as the “master in the middle of the field”; the “metronome”. Tonali has in fact drawn comparisons to Andrea Pirlo, but the player himself says he believes he has elements of both Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.

Liverpool scouts have also been watching Tonali since the start of the year and controversial owner Massimo Cellino confirmed in January that Liverpool had made contact with the Italians over a move for Tonali.

In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Brescia president Cellino said: “Yes, Roma have asked me about Tonali. I’ve talked about him to [Roma director Mauro] Baldissoni several times, but I want to keep the lad as long as possible. Is he ready? I don’t know, he’s 18. But Liverpool also contacted me a little while ago.”

Calciomercato.com stated last month that AC Milan made a summer bid for Tonali that was rejected by Cellino, believed to be in the region of €15-20m, while Chelsea are also believed to have an interest in the central midfielder.

FcInterNews.it believe that Cellino is hoping for an auction next summer with the starting price set at €35m with the outlet reporting Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund had ‘made moves’ earlier in October.

 

Sandro Tonali

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