Midfielder closing in on Spurs move
Sandro Tonali is edging closer to a move to Tottenham Hotspur, according to reports, despite suggestions Manchester City were preparing to hijack the deal.
The Newcastle midfielder has been heavily linked with a switch to north London throughout the summer, and reliable Italian journalist Nicolo Schira has now indicated the move is progressing.
Schira wrote on X: “Excl. Sandro #Tonali is getting closer to #Tottenham from #Newcastle for a transfer fee over €100M. The midfielder has a total agreement with #THFC for a contract until 2032 (€12M/year) and has given his availability to De Zerbi, who had a key-role to convince him despite other two bids from top english clubs. #transfers.”
That update came shortly after reports from Spanish newspaper Marca claimed City were ready to push for over €110 million to hijack Tottenham’s pursuit. But Schira’s information suggests Spurs are not being priced out of the race.
Tottenham have already been busy this summer. Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka all arrived on free transfers, while Jan Paul van Hecke joined from Brighton for £52m.
Fabrizio Romano also confirmed on Tuesday that Spurs have beaten Manchester United to the signing of West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes in a deal worth £85m — described by Romano as the most expensive in Tottenham’s history.
Romano said of the Fernandes deal: “It’s done — Matheus Fernandes will play for Tottenham Hotspur and not for Manchester United. Man United were not matching the £85m valuation in full. Tottenham arrived with an £85m guaranteed fee — a fixed fee, no add-ons, no future stories.”
With Fernandes set for a medical, Tottenham remain in conversations with Newcastle over Tonali. Romano confirmed Spurs are “working very hard to rebuild the midfield” and the Tonali talks are ongoing.
Whether City do eventually test Newcastle’s resolve remains to be seen, but for now, the momentum appears to be with Tottenham.