Sandro Tonali is ready to trade St. James’ Park for north London — and he’s doing it with his eyes wide open. Despite Tottenham missing out on European competition entirely last season, the 26-year-old Italy international is reportedly keen to reunite with manager Roberto De Zerbi. That’s the word from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who dropped the update on his YouTube channel Thursday.
According to Romano, Tonali is attracted by the project De Zerbi is building in Tottenham and wants to be a cornerstone of it — even after a disastrous campaign that saw Spurs finish well outside the continental spots. “Sandro Tonali is ready to join Spurs even without European football, even after a terrible season for Tottenham Hotspur,” Romano said. “Tonali is attracted by the project and wants to play for Roberto De Zerbi.”
The Price Tag & The Competition
Any deal won’t come cheap. Romano expects the total package to land around €100 million — roughly £85 million. Tottenham have already made an aggressive start to the transfer window, landing Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson and Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi on free transfers. Now they’re aiming higher.
Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal have all been linked with Tonali at various points. But sources suggest United and Arsenal view the price as too steep, while City have shifted focus to Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson as their priority midfield target. That could leave Spurs with a clear lane — but Newcastle aren’t exactly feeling pressure to sell.
Why Newcastle Can Hold Firm
The Magpies already offloaded Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3 million earlier this window, taking the edge off any financial urgency. They’re under no obligation to reduce Tonali’s valuation, and they won’t. If Spurs want this deal done, they’ll have to pay market rate — or close to it.
De Zerbi knows exactly what he’d be getting. Tonali’s game is built on controlling tempo, winning duels in the middle third, and advancing play with progressive passes. Those traits slot neatly into the demanding, possession-heavy system De Zerbi installed during his first months at the helm. At 26, Tonali is entering his prime years, and the idea of him anchoring a Tottenham midfield alongside established pieces — or perhaps Joao Palhinha, who Spurs have also been pursuing permanently — could reshape the club’s spine.
Whether a Tonali pursuit cools interest in Palhinha remains unclear. But the message from Tottenham’s summer so far is unmistakable: they’re swinging for established talent, not just bargain-bin gambles.
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