Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly agreed a club-record deal with Newcastle United for the signing of Sandro Tonali.
Spurs are set to pay an initial £92.5m for the Italian midfielder which could rise to £100m should they achieve consecutive Champions League qualifications. Assuming the transfer formalities proceed as planned, it will represent a club record for the North Londoners, following the announcement of Mateus Fernandes’ signing on Thursday afternoon.
Fernandes, an £85m recruit from West Ham, has become Tottenham’s fifth signing of a summer that is turning out to be highly productive. Jan Paul Van Hecke has joined from Brighton & Hove Albion for £52m, despite just one year remaining on his contract, while Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka have arrived on free transfers.
Roberto De Zerbi has identified Sandro Tonali as his primary target to bolster his midfield unit. And according to popular transfer news correspondent Fabrizio Romano on X, a deal between Tottenham and Newcastle United has been reached, and personal terms have also been agreed with the player.
How Tottenham could shape up with Sandro Tonali and other signings
Spurs managed to preserve top-flight status by the skin of their teeth under De Zerbi. The Italian tactician masterminded a turnaround in fortunes, with Spurs escaping relegation on the final day of last season at the expense of West Ham.
In terms of rebuilding the squad, the Lewis Family, along with the club’s new hierarchy, have shown great ambition in the transfer market. Tonali and Fernandes are set to cost a combined figure of around £185m with add-ons, as De Zerbi desperately wanted the duo to bolster his side’s midfield department.
As far as Tonali is concerned, the Italian has established himself as one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League over the last couple of years. Having played close to 330 games across stints with Brescia, AC Milan and Newcastle United, it goes without saying that the 26-year-old has volumes of experience at a high level.
A versatile midfielder frequently deployed as a No.6, Tonali is also adept at playing as a box-to-box midfielder. Because of his technical ability, high work rate, positional discipline and tactical intelligence, he can thrive as a No.8 in De Zerbi’s system and complement Fernandes in Tottenham’s engine room.
The duo would not only improve the technical flooring of the squad, but also add much-needed bite and running power to Spurs’ midfield that was outwitted and outworked countless times last season. And the fact that both Tonali and Fernandes have experience of playing in the Premier League would help them hit the ground running at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Defensive unit solidified
Moving to defence, the Lilywhites have acquired the services of Robertson, Senesi and Van Hecke. Robertson, the former Liverpool star, will compete with Destiny Udogie for the left-back spot.
Senesi, snapped up on a free transfer from Bournemouth, is expected to act as Micky van de Ven’s understudy.
Van Hecke has joined in a £52m deal from Brighton, and the Netherlands international is viewed as a potential replacement for skipper Cristian Romero, who wants to leave the club this summer. As for Dubravka, the 37-year-old will act as Spurs’ No.2 behind Antonin Kinsky, with Guglielmo Vicario seeking an exit after three years in N17.
Overall, Tottenham have enjoyed an excellent transfer window thus far, one that has significantly addressed the glaring holes in De Zerbi’s squad.