Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to complete an agreement to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, with Fabrizio Romano issuing the latest update on a deal in recent hours.
Tottenham chiefs have gone into overdrive since the Premier League season ended in survival on the final day, with the club determined to ensure they aren't involved in a relegation battle again anytime soon.
Spurs have been the busiest Premier League club in the summer transfer window to date, already announcing the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers, while they have also reached a full agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion to sign Netherlands international centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke in a deal worth £52m.
The defence has been significantly strengthened, with Roberto De Zerbi further boosted by the news that Pedro Porro has committed his long-term future to the north London outfit.
Now, De Zerbi wants Tottenham officials to make a big splash in central midfield too, with David Ornstein reporting this week that the Italian wants to land both Tonali from Newcatle and West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes.
Talks also continue over a deal to sign Joao Palhinha on a permanent basis following his loan spell from Bayern Munich.
Romano: 'Deal On' for Tonali to Join Tottenham
While interest in signing Fernandes from West Ham has emerged, there is no doubt that Tonali remains De Zerbi's top target as he looks to make a statement signing for Tottenham's engine room.
Many may have thought that it was an unlikely deal when the news was first confirmed, but Spurs are making a serious push for the Italy international, who is also a target for Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, with the 'world-class' 26-year-old open to joining to link up with De Zerbi.
Romano has confirmed that it is 'deal on' for Tonali to Tottenham as he provided the latest update on the deal via his YouTube channel overnight.
He said: "Tottenham are working on a deal for Sandro Tonali. Tottenham are aware of the player being open to joining.
"That was my message, and that remains my message. I keep telling you about Tonali and Tottenham. Should anything change, I will come here and update you. But as of today, we are entering into the weekend, I keep telling you Sandro Tonali and Tottenham, wanted by Roberto De Zerbi in talks. So, deal on Tottenham, Sandro Tonali. That's the understanding, that's the story."
Tottenham Want to Complete Seven Signings
The signs are that Tottenham and ENIC aren't messing around this summer, and it is a notion that has been backed up by reliable Spurs source Paul O'Keefe.
He claims that the north London outfit want to complete seven signings this summer, to give De Zerbi the strongest squad possible next season to really try and compete towards the top of the Premier League table again.
Tottenham have already signed the defenders they wanted to get, but now they want to add at least one central midfielder, according to O'Keefe, while they also want a left-winger, right-winger and a new centre-forward.
Tottenham have been in talks to try and secure a player for the former in Savinho from Manchester City.