Sandro Tonali is likely to leave Newcastle United this summer as Tottenham Hotspur lead the race for his signature.
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Tottenham Hotspur continue to lead the race for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Spurs had an opening bid in the region of £80million rejected for Tonali last week, with Newcastle demanding closer to £100million.
The 26-year-old is open to the prospect of living in London and working under fellow Italian Roberto De Zerbi, who hails from Brescia, the club in which Tonali began his career at.
Spurs have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons but still have the ability to spend big and offer a sizeable wage package, more than what Newcastle can offer.
Fabrizio Romano plays down Sandro Tonali hijack claims
But with Manchester City and Arsenal also interested in Tonali, former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, among many, has suggested Spurs being used as a pawn to try to bring other clubs to the table.
But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has moved to play down those claims, insisting that the Spurs “deal is on”.
Speaking on YouTube, Romano said: “I keep receiving many questions from you asking me ‘Fabrizio, many people mentioning Arsenal and Manchester City, what's going on with Tonali? Is he going to Tottenham as you said or not?’
“I stand by my news from last week out of nowhere exclusive news. Sandro Tonali, Tottenham full stop. So today I keep mentioning Tottenham and Tonali, Tonali and Tottenham. I remain on my position.
“Tottenham are working on the deal to sign Sandro Tonali and that remains the case. Deal on. Tottenham, Tonali. I'm not coming here mentioning Man City. I'm not coming here mentioning other clubs.
“Since I told you Tonali, Tottenham last week the other clubs are no longer mentioned by myself at least. So let's follow the situation but the deal is on.”
Explaining his theory, Jordan said: “A £90million bid? I think that will be used as a mechanism to lever other football clubs by the agent that's looking around going...
“I just feel, and I hope I'm wrong for Spurs fans, I feel that Tonali's agent, whoever he is, will be leveraging the circumstance in the same way that Eze’s agent leveraged the circumstance with Tottenham and Tottenham will be utilised to be able to create a benchmark for how much this player can get from X, Y, Z clubs.”