Manchester United are watching from the sofa this weekend, as FA Cup 4th Round ties get underway across the country. A defeat to Brighton in January ensured that United would play no further part in the FA Cup season, leaving United with a record low of just 40 games to play the entire season after an early EFL Cup exit to Grimsby.
Plenty of Premier League teams remain involved in the competition, including Aston Villa and Newcastle, who met at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon in one of the picks of the round. For United fans, it was a chance to watch Manchester United summer target Sandro Tonali, and he certainly put on a show.
Sandro Tonali's FA Cup performance has to have caught Man United's eye
Aston Villa are battling for Champions League football in the League, while Newcastle have just been knocked out of the EFL Cup at the semi-finals. Both have plenty to prove. Newcastle United were also without their star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. Travelling away to third place Aston Villa would be a tough order
It was Newcastle that ended the game as victors, kicking Villa out of the cup with a smart 3-1 victory. It was Sandro Tonali that starred in the game, including two goals that win himself the player of the match award.
Both of Tonali's goals were dispatched in similar fashion, with the Italian midfielder lingering on the edge of the box, before pouncing on a loose ball and finishing smartly. His first goal was bundled in somewhat, but his second was a fantastic strike from the edge of the box to give his team the lead in the 76th minute, before a Nick Woltemade strike ensured Newcastle advance to the next round.
Tonali has already been linked to a move away from Newcastle, including links to Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United. United are already searching the market for a new midfielder after the announced exit of Casemiro at the end of the season after his contract expires. Casemiro's recent performances have also given United even more reason to look for a high-quality replacement.
Various players have been linked to be United's Casemiro replacement, including Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton. Sandro Tonali may well be a difficult deal to make, for a number of reasons. Newcastle are obviously protective of their best assets, and would hesitate to sell to as big of a rival as Man United.
Despite that, Tonali may well leave in the summer. Newcastle have had consistent problems with Profit and Sustainability Regulations, and there are rumours that Tonali is unhappy in Newcastle. United will have to compete with some huge clubs for his signature, but the Italian may well be worth the challenge.