The deal between Tottenham and Newcastle for Sandro Tonali will be a club-record transfer for the North London club, who are enjoying a busy summer
Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £100million. The Athletic is reporting that a deal between both clubs has been struck that will see Spurs pay an initial £92.5m for Tonali, with an additional £7.5m in proposed add-ons based on multiple Champions League qualifications.
The Magpies have already rejected two bids from Tottenham for the Italy international after stepping up their pursuit late last month by initiating club-to-club contact. Personal terms between Tonali and Spurs were never expected to be a problem.
Tonali was identified as a top target for Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi as he looks to rebuild his squad after helping the club avoid relegation from the Premier League. Arsenal have also been linked with a move for the midfielder, who signed for Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m three years ago. However, the midfielder now looks set to move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Spurs turned their attention to him after reaching an agreement with West Ham for the £85million transfer of Mateus Fernandes. Fernandes is set to complete a medical at Spurs’ Hotspur Way training ground today after they won the race to sign the 21-year-old ahead of Manchester United on Tuesday evening. But the deal for Tonali will eclipse the previous club-record package worth a guaranteed £85m that secured the services of Fernandes.
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It has so far been a busy summer for Spurs, with Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi all arriving on free transfers. While £52m was spent on Jan Paul van Hecke, who joined from Brighton & Hove Albion.
When asked about a possible deal last month, former Newcastle forward Alan Shearer believes there were two reasons why Tonali wanted to move to North London. He told Betfair: "Tottenham just avoided relegation. I get the attraction of London but going to Spurs who have finished so low over the last two years would be a surprise career move for Tonali in my eyes.
“But I'm not surprised if it's true that he's made an indication that he wants to leave Newcastle. Again, if he doesn't want to be there, you put the price you want and if someone wants to pay it, and it looks as if it'll have to be three figures, then you say thank you very much, get the £100million plus and you move on.
"I know Spurs have a new manager and that may be a pull for him, London obviously. But in terms of the football club, look where they have finished the last two years."
Tonali's agent, Giuseppe Riso, was asked about a possible exit from Tyneside in March, and he said: “Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he went to England – to try to make him a star player. I think he’s the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world.
"The deal came about because a club like Newcastle, with unlimited financial resources, had decided to invest in Sandro. We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league."
When asked if Newcastle would sell Tonali this summer, CEO David Hopkinson said three months ago: "We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer.
"But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club."