Tottenham Hotspur have launched a £75m bid to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali today, with the number that the Magpies want revealed by Sky Sports.
Fabrizio Romano revealed this week that Tottenham had made the Italy international a top target, with Roberto De Zerbi keen to link with his national compatriot in north London.
Spurs have been in negotiations with the player over a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with David Ornstein confirming on Saturday evening that the north Londoners have now initiated club-to-club contact with the Magpies to try and agree a deal for a player they claim is £100m-rated
De Zerbi wants to make a statement signing in the middle of the park as he looks to bring the club back to the elite, and he is also keen on a deal for West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes.
Fernandes is also Manchester United's top target, while Tonali has been a target for the Red Devils, Manchester City and Arsenal in recent months.
Sky Sports: Tottenham Launch £75m Bid for Tonali
According to Sky Sports journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, posting on X on Saturday night, Tottenham have now taken an important step in their bid to prise Tonali away from Newcastle.
Spurs have launched an offer worth £75m for the 26-year-old, but Newcastle have informed their Premier League rivals that they want £85m to sell.
It isn't a huge gap for Tottenham to bridge now, and they will be confident of reaching an agreement sooner rather than later as they ramp up their efforts to secure De Zerbi's top target.
Di Marzio has suggested that a compromise could be agreed for £80m in the coming days.
Tottenham 'Very Close' to Mateus Fernandes Agreement
Ornstein reported earlier this week that De Zerbi wants Spurs to sign both Tonali and Fernandes from West Ham, as the looks to transform his central midfield.
Matteo Moretto reported on Saturday afternoon that the north Londoners are 'very close' to an agreement with the Portugal international over personal terms, with the Irons wanting £80-85m for their prized asset despite the fact that they were relegated to the Championship last season.
Should he manage to pull off a statement double deal, it would raise doubts over a move to make Joao Palhinha's loan deal from Bayern Munich permanent, and could see some midfielders depart too.
Paul O'Keefe has already suggested that minutes for the likes of Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall could be limited this season as De Zerbi plans to go with experience, like he did at the end of last season.
Bergvall has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Aston Villa in recent months.