Tottenham are pushing hard to sign Sandro Tonali this summer, with sources telling ESPN that Spurs have entered the race for the Italian midfielder. The catch? Newcastle United will demand somewhere in the region of £100 million to let him go — and they hold every card.
Tottenham look to sign Sandro Tonali ahead of Premier League giants
This is not a two-horse race. Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are all keeping tabs on the situation, with sources suggesting clubs have been given reason to believe a deal is achievable this summer. However, Spurs believe Tonali himself would be open to a move to north London — and that is at least half the battle. The bigger obstacle is prising him away from Tyneside.
Newcastle paid AC Milan £61 million for Tonali back in 2023, and they are not in the business of selling at a loss. The 24-year-old signed a contract extension in January that keeps him at St James’ Park until 2029, with an option for a further year on top of that. Newcastle’s negotiating position is rock solid, and they know it.
Roberto De Zerbi needs a statement signing at Spurs
Tottenham’s summer business has already produced Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson on free transfers, along with an agreed deal to bring Netherlands centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke in from Brighton. Solid business, but it is hardly the stuff of headlines. Landing Tonali — ahead of clubs of the stature of City and Arsenal — would be an entirely different statement. It would be the kind of move that instantly signals Roberto De Zerbi means business after Spurs narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s interest in Tonali remains uncertain. The Gunners are exploring midfield options with Roma’s Manu Koné among several names on their radar. Manchester United, for their part, are focusing their energy on landing Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, while Manchester City have seen two bids for Elliot Anderson knocked back by Nottingham Forest. In other words, the path is not entirely blocked for Spurs — but £100 million is still a monumental ask.