Given: Tonali Is a Brilliant Signing for Spurs & Bruno Could Have Odegaard Worried

Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , Irish football legend Shay Given has assessed the biggest midfield moves of the summer across the Premier League .

Given has voiced his surprise that Arsenal , Liverpool and Manchester United did not fight Tottenham Hotspur for Sandro Tonali , and explained why Bruno Guimaraes is better suited higher up the pitch in a role that could unsettle Martin Odegaard .

The former Ireland international has also considered whether Vinicius Jr would transform Arsenal , and why Manchester United still look light in midfield despite signing Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans .

Sandro Tonali

Were You Surprised by Tonali's Move to Spurs?

I was surprised the likes of Arsenal , Liverpool and Manchester United didn't fight Tottenham Hotspur for Sandro Tonali in the end, but it probably comes down to money. They may have stepped away because they thought the number was too big, but I don't think it is, and I actually think Sandro Tonali is a brilliant signing for Spurs .

I have so much time for Sandro and what he did for Newcastle United , and we've seen how important he can be for Italy too. He's the main man for them. He dominates the game in midfield for Italy . I think he's a really good signing and I'm surprised there weren't more suitors in the fight to get him, to be honest, because when we talk about young players taking time to settle in, it's the absolute opposite for Tonali . For £100 million, you're signing a player who has played at the very top in the Premier League ; he plays for his country, and it might be a new club and new surroundings, but there will be no period of transition for him. He will go into Tottenham Hotspur and be the exact same player he was for Newcastle , if not better. Roberto De Zerbi knows him, and so it's a perfect fit for manager and player.

I don't understand why Arsenal or Liverpool didn't make a move for Tonali . Manchester United definitely could have done with him to replace Casemiro , who has left. All three clubs could have pushed the boat out because they do have the financial power to sign the likes of Tonali .

Bruno Guimaraes

Can You Make Sense of the Arsenal Links to Bruno Guimaraes?

Where would Bruno Guimaraes fit in at Arsenal ? That's a really good question. I actually think Bruno is better suited to playing higher up the field, so the likes of Martin Zubimendi should be relatively safe. You're talking Martin Odegaard territory. I think that's where Bruno plays his best football, for me. He sees the forward pass. He has got that eye for the runs that strikers and wingers make. When it comes to Arsenal , I think he would fit more into that sort of role, taking away some of his defensive duties because sometimes Bruno struggles to get back into positions. If you've got the likes of Declan Rice behind him, he can be a bit more attack-minded in that more advanced midfield position.

Then again, Mikel Arteta might have the complete opposite role in mind for him to go and sit next to Declan Rice and not move, but from what I've seen of Bruno , his best position is higher up the field, and that might have Odegaard worried. He might be the club captain, but if Bruno came in, that would be the position he is best suited to play, and that might mean replacing him. Martin Odegaard has his injury problems, and yet he finished the season so strongly last year. He's done well for his club and his country at the World Cup . Maybe what Mikel Arteta is thinking is a player like Bruno Guimaraes could give Odegaard his spark back with a bit of competition, because earlier in the season I felt he was dropping way too deep and playing safe passes to keep the ball rather than threaten teams. I'd like to see Odegaard doing more than just keep it ticking over in that number 10 position, finding those pockets of space and playing passes through to runners.

Then again, look at Declan Rice . Bruno can play in his position as well, and that could give Mikel Arteta more licence to rest Declan because I think that's becoming a real worry that Declan Rice is playing too much football. He seems to play every minute, and we all know the kind of player that he is. He is all in, all the time. You can only do that for so long. It'll catch up on him eventually. Maybe Arteta is looking at Bruno 's flexibility and thinking he can play higher up the pitch or sit in among the holding midfielders too. It's a signing that would give them plenty of options.

How Do You Rate Newcastle's Chances of Keeping Bruno?

Bruno Guimaraes is still a Newcastle United player. He's not gone yet! Keep the faith. Of course the noises coming out aren't positive at the minute, but I hope he stays. Bruno and Eddie Howe were very close, but you never know; a new manager might come in and say he's staying!

Arsenal's Attack

Would Bruno Give Arsenal the Depth to Win Multiple Trophies?

Can a signing like Bruno Guimaraes give Arsenal the strength in depth they need to win multiple trophies? Yes, but I think they still need to strengthen their options up front with another striker as well. Viktor Gyokeres did okay last season, but I still think when you want to win multiple trophies, you need somebody at the very top of the pitch who only needs one chance to score, not three or four chances a game. That's the level Arsenal are at, at the minute. If there is an opportunity to bring in more quality up front, that's part of the puzzle too.

Would Vinicius Jr Be as Transformative as Some Hope?

Could Vinicius Jr be the sort of player to add the quality Arsenal need in the final third? Yes, and it shows you the level that Arsenal are at that this sort of deal is even being spoken about, and of course the financial power they now have to back it up. Can you imagine the financial package that would be needed to bring a player like Vinicius Jr to Arsenal ? It would be huge numbers all round across the transfer fee, the wages and all the clauses and add-ons.

Arsenal have become renowned over the last couple of years for being this team that has a real togetherness after moving on the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang , Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil . Everyone in that squad now feels like they're pulling in the same direction. I'm not saying Vinicius Jr doesn't defend or wouldn't fit into that group, but it's a risk; I suppose you have to take risks to bring something different to a team like that, and he's a brilliant player. It would be the biggest transfer news of the year if Arsenal signed him.

Manchester United

Do Manchester United Still Look Light in Midfield?

Have Manchester United weakened their midfield by not trying to sign Sandro Tonali or Bruno Guimaraes ? Well, I think Youri Tielemans is a really good signing, and remember Aston Villa only had to sell him because of financial reasons, because they signed him on a free. That's frustrating for Villa because they have two billionaire owners, but that's what the rules say. To sign Tielemans for £35 million when Sandro Tonali was £100 million, well that's actually a really good piece of business because United are getting a really experienced player for club and country.

The Andrey Santos deal is a bit different. He was in and out at Chelsea , and it's not a small fee. I know he's young, but I don't think many Chelsea fans were crying in the streets when they sold him for £50 million. Michael Carrick must have looked at that deal and decided there's a player there and that he can get the best out of him to really develop him as a midfielder, but there's always a risk with any young player in that position. They could have paid £100 million instead for Sandro Tonali with very little risk. It's crazy to me that these days you pay £50 million for a player with that amount of uncertainty and risk involved.

Andrey Santos could prove everyone wrong and be a brilliant midfielder for Manchester United for many years to come, but I think either one of Bruno Guimaraes or Sandro Tonali would have been the perfect fit for what they needed to replace Casemiro . Maybe it comes down to the financial situation at Manchester United . They have to be careful after not being in the Champions League for a few years. They're back in the competition this season, and if they continue to qualify, maybe they'll go heavy again in the transfer market, and United do need to do more business. I've been surprised there hasn't already been more movement from them in this transfer window.

Where Do United Need to Make Those Signings?

Manchester United need to strengthen up their defence. They've got a couple of exciting young centre-halves who did well last season at times, but I think they need an experienced centre-half. Luke Shaw has had his injury problems but did well last season, although I do think that's a risk too. What United need more than individuals in certain positions is greater strength in depth as a collective across the group because last season they were out of the League Cup in the first round, they were out of the FA Cup in the first round, and they had no European football to deal with.

This season, they're back in the Champions League , and they're going to be playing every three or four days, and that is going to leave this squad extremely stretched. Michael Carrick will understand this. He can't rely on individuals like Bruno Fernandes going and having another player of the year season, only playing 40 games in a season or whatever. We've seen how Champions League football has put a strain on Aston Villa and Newcastle United in recent seasons. Playing midweek games and weekends was too much for their squads to take. United face the same problem unless they go and add some real depth to the options available to Carrick this summer. This season, they're back in the Champions League , their squad wasn't strong enough last season, and they've already lost a couple of players. I think they need to sign another six or seven players at least.

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