Tottenham Targets £100m Sandro Tonali as De Zerbi Seeks Key Signing
Tottenham’s summer business has already turned heads. Roberto De Zerbi now wants a transfer that would shake the league.
Sandro Tonali is that name.
Spurs have made contact with the Newcastle United midfielder’s camp over a potential move and, crucially, received encouragement back. No deal is close. Newcastle have not yet sat down at the table. But the lines of communication are open, and that alone is significant given the scale of the numbers involved.
De Zerbi’s marquee demand
De Zerbi has arrived at Tottenham with a clear brief: sharpen a squad that already has a solid core and push it towards serious contention. Free transfers for Andy Robertson and Marco Senesi have added experience and depth. A £52 million move for Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke is close, further reshaping the back line.
Tonali, though, would be something else entirely. According to The Times, De Zerbi views the Italian as the “statement” signing of his first window in charge, the kind of midfielder around whom you can build a side’s identity.
That ambition comes with a price. A huge one.
Newcastle’s stance: only for a fortune
Newcastle paid £61m for Tonali in 2023 and are under no pressure to sell cheaply. Internally, there is an acceptance that a major sale might be required this summer, but not at a discount. The message is simple: if Tonali goes, it will be for around £100m.
The 24-year-old strengthened his commitment to the club as recently as January, signing a new contract running to 2029, with an option for an extra year. Any buying club would be paying not just for his current level, but for his prime years, locked in on a long deal.
Tottenham know that. They also know they are not alone.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been linked with Tonali in recent months. The market for elite central midfielders is always fierce; for one under long-term contract, with Champions League experience and room to grow, it becomes a bidding war waiting to happen.
Tonali’s resurgence after suspension
Tonali’s time in England has already taken a sharp turn once. He returned from a suspension for breaching gambling rules to re-establish himself as a key figure under Eddie Howe. Since his comeback, he has become central to Newcastle’s structure, contributing three goals and seven assists in 53 appearances in all competitions last season.
His mix of intensity, passing range and tactical discipline makes him an obvious fit for De Zerbi’s demanding style. A midfielder who can take the ball under pressure, dictate tempo and still punch through lines is exactly what Tottenham’s next evolution requires.
Newcastle, naturally, are not pushing him towards the exit.
Back in February, Howe was clear when asked about the Italian’s future.
“Sandro’s very happy here,” he said. “He’s got a great relationship with me and his teammates and he seems really, really happy within himself. I don’t see an issue, but I’m not in control of everything.
“There’s no issue with Sandro. He’s happy and committed. But our best players will always be attracting glances from other clubs – that’s just the reality of football.”
That reality has now landed at Newcastle’s door in the form of Tottenham’s interest.
Spurs’ next move
For Spurs, the question is no longer whether Tonali fits. It’s whether they are prepared to smash through the £100m barrier to land De Zerbi’s ideal midfielder, on top of their already aggressive early window.
They have started the summer by moving quickly and decisively. Now comes the test of how far they are willing to go to back their new head coach’s vision – and whether Newcastle are truly ready to cash in on one of their most prized assets.
