Tottenham Hotspur are actively pursuing Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, with manager Roberto De Zerbi identified as a key driver of the potential transfer. This comes as Manchester United have reportedly deemed Tonali’s £100 million price tag excessive, shifting their focus to Atalanta’s Ederson and West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are “working on a deal” for the Italian international, with Tonali himself reportedly open to a move to North London. Spurs have already secured the signings of Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Marcos Senesi this summer, signalling a significant overhaul of the squad under De Zerbi’s direction.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan last year for a similar fee to the one currently quoted, but has struggled to fully establish himself as a key player in Eddie Howe’s side. He made 21 Premier League appearances last season, contributing one goal and one assist. The 24-year-old has 14 caps for the Italian national team, and was a part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League in 2023.
Spurs are also reportedly intensifying their pursuit of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, potentially in a double raid on Premier League rivals. Romano reports that Tottenham are “very close to reaching an agreement” with the Portuguese player on personal terms, though Manchester United are mounting an “aggressive push” to secure Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville. Should both Tonali and Fernandes arrive, it would represent a substantial investment in Tottenham’s midfield, addressing a perceived weakness in the squad. As an alternative to Tonali, Tottenham have also identified Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as a potential target.
