Tottenham's Ambitious Midfield Rebuild: Tonali, Fernandes, and Scott
Tottenham’s midfield rebuild is starting to look less like a tweak and more like a full-scale operation.
Roberto De Zerbi has made the centre of the pitch the heart of his first major overhaul in north London, and the names on his list leave no doubt about the scale of his ambition: Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, and now Bournemouth’s rising playmaker Alex Scott.
This is not a club browsing. This is a club hunting.
Tonali: The £100m statement target
For weeks, Sandro Tonali has sat at the top of Tottenham’s agenda.
The Newcastle midfielder is one of the headline acts in De Zerbi’s summer plan, a player viewed inside Spurs as a ready-made upgrade in quality and experience at the base of midfield. Talks have already taken place with Tonali’s representatives, and the Italy international is understood to be open to the move if the clubs can thrash out a deal.
That is the problem.
Newcastle value him at around £100 million. Tottenham’s opening offer, believed to be in the region of £80m, has already been rejected by the Magpies. The gap is significant, but Spurs’ persistence underlines how central Tonali has become to their thinking.
He is the marquee piece in a crowded puzzle.
Mateus Fernandes: Progress on the player, hard work with West Ham
Tonali is not the only major name in the frame.
West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes has emerged as another primary target after a standout season in east London. The Portugal international has attracted heavy interest across the division, and Tottenham have moved early to position themselves near the front of the queue.
Reports over recent weeks suggest Spurs have already made progress on the player’s side, with Fernandes described by some outlets as close to an agreement on personal terms. The club, in other words, has sold him the project.
Now comes the more delicate part: dealing with West Ham.
According to The Independent, positive discussions have taken place between the London rivals over a deal that could eventually be worth around £85m. That figure underlines how aggressively Tottenham are prepared to invest in their midfield, and it reinforces the impression that De Zerbi wants at least one, and possibly two, major additions in that area before the window closes.
The message is clear: Spurs intend to control games from the middle, not chase them.
Dubravka deal shows broader squad reset
While the big-money midfield manoeuvres dominate the headlines, Tottenham have quietly moved in other areas.
Martin Dubravka has arrived on a free transfer after leaving Burnley, adding experience and depth to the goalkeeping department. The former Newcastle man spent last season at Turf Moor and now steps into a squad being steadily reshaped under De Zerbi.
It is not a glamorous signing, but it is a telling one. Spurs are not just stockpiling talent; they are building layers of competition across the pitch.
Alex Scott: Bournemouth hold firm as the big clubs circle
And then there is Alex Scott.
According to Sky Sports, Tottenham are one of several Premier League clubs tracking the 22-year-old Bournemouth midfielder, who has quietly become one of the most influential young players in the division since his move from Bristol City.
His development on the south coast has not gone unnoticed. Manchester United and Arsenal have already tested Bournemouth’s resolve with initial enquiries for the player, who is valued at around £60m. Both approaches have been knocked back.
Bournemouth’s stance could hardly be firmer. They do not want to sell Scott in this window.
The club have made that position clear to all interested parties and are instead working to secure his long-term future. Talks over a new contract are already under way, with Bournemouth hopeful that Scott will continue his rise under newly appointed head coach Marco Rose.
For them, the ideal outcome is simple: keep him, build around him, and watch his value soar.
A rising star who keeps attracting giants
Scott’s stock has climbed sharply despite a notable recent setback on the international stage. He missed out on England’s World Cup squad this summer, having been strongly considered before ultimately being left out of the final group.
The omission has not slowed the interest.
His performances for Bournemouth have kept him firmly on the radar of the Premier League’s elite. Clubs see a modern midfielder with the technical range and composure to dictate games for the next decade.
Tottenham are now firmly in that crowd.
De Zerbi’s first full summer in charge is beginning to take shape: Tonali at the top of the list, Fernandes in advanced talks, Scott heavily admired but fiercely protected by Bournemouth. Three different clubs, three different negotiations, one clear theme.
Spurs are trying to build a midfield that can carry them into a new era. The only question now is which of these expensive, hard-fought pursuits actually crosses the line.
