Spurs Zero In on Newcastle’s Tonali — and It Might Take a Record Fee to Get Him

Roberto De Zerbi isn’t messing around this summer. With just weeks until the new Premier League season, Tottenham’s manager has reportedly locked onto a midfield target that would send a clear signal to the rest of the league: Sandro Tonali.

The Italy international, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023 for roughly €70 million, has become one of the most reliable midfield engines in English soccer. Last season he started 31 league matches for Eddie Howe’s side, anchoring the middle of the park with a mix of grit and composure that doesn’t grow on trees.

Now, according to Sky Sports News and The Athletic, Spurs have made Tonali a top priority. De Zerbi is said to be personally driving the pursuit, with the club’s ownership fully on board. The problem? Newcastle doesn’t want to sell, and Tonali’s contract runs through 2029 with no release clause.

That puts the Magpies in a seller’s market — and they’re not exactly eager to deal. Multiple reports indicate the Tyneside club views Tonali as a cornerstone piece, not a bargaining chip.

What complicates things further is the price tag. The current midfield market is already inflated: Nottingham Forest is demanding north of £100 million for Manchester City target Elliot Anderson, and West Ham has slapped an £80 million price on Mateus Fernandes. Tonali, given his experience and international pedigree, could command a figure in that same stratosphere — or higher.

Tottenham isn’t the only club circling. Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United have all been linked with the 26-year-old at various points this summer. But the Manchester clubs are reportedly focused on other positions, leaving the door open for Spurs and the Gunners to battle it out. The Athletic reports that Tottenham has already held positive conversations with Tonali’s representatives, though formal contact with Newcastle has yet to happen.

For Tottenham, this would be more than a signing — it’s a statement. The club is coming off a season that ended without a trophy and without a sporting director after Fabio Paratici left for Fiorentina. Adding a player of Tonali’s caliber would signal that De Zerbi has real pull and that ownership is willing to spend to close the gap at the top of the table.

But there’s a lingering question: can Spurs actually get this done without Champions League soccer to offer? Tonali played under the brightest lights in Milan and has tasted the top tier of European competition. If Newcastle digs in and asks for a fee that breaks club records, Tottenham will have to decide just how badly they want their man.

For now, the talks are real, the interest is mutual, and the price is rising. This one could define the summer window for both clubs.