Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are all expected to sign a midfielder, or two, in the summer transfer window.
The Premier League champions are targeting cover in the engine room to help ensure there is less reliance on Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi next season.
That said, the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly towards the end of the season may impact those plans.
Meanwhile, Man Utd - who have already agreed a £35million deal with Atalanta for Ederson - are said to want at least one more midfielder amid links to West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.
Man City are keen on Nottingham Forest and England international Elliot Anderson, but have had an opening offer rejected. Reports have since claimed that if a deal proves too expensive then Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United is an alternative.
The Italy international has also been linked with Arsenal and Man Utd, thus potentially sparking a three-way battle for his signature.
However, a potential deal for Tonali will not be cheap. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Newcastle have set an asking price for the 26-year-old at €115m (£100m).
Furthermore, the report states the £100m figure ‘doesn't scare’ the aforementioned clubs, though it remains to be seen if any will follow up on their interest.
Tonali has been tipped to leave St James’ Park this summer after the Magpies failed to qualify for the Champions League - or any European competition - next season.
“Newcastle are having a hard time letting go of Sandro, and he wants to lead the club to the Champions League,” Giuseppe Riso, Tonali's agent, said in February, as per the Times.
“We’ll evaluate and decide what to do in the summer. These transfer discussions will take place later.
“We’ll see how the season ends and then we’ll decide what to do.
“There’s no preference at the moment.
“It’s still early. What we’re saying today won’t apply tomorrow. Newcastle couldn’t let him go now, and there’s no point in moving, especially since Sandro is very attached to the club.”
