Spurs are “coming with a bid” to seal a Sandro Tonali repeat for £70m

The flexibility to win the race for Mateus Fernandes felt like an announcement for Tottenham Hotspur, however let’s face it, the north Londoners have spent huge on younger expertise earlier than.

It’s the £100m signing of Sandro Tonali that has actually raised eyebrows, and never simply due to the switch charge, with this a really un-Spurs-like deal, you would possibly say.

Or reasonably, this might have been a deal supporters might have solely dreamed of within the Daniel Levy period, the frugal businessman memorably overseeing an 18-month interval with out a single senior incoming throughout 2018 and 2019.

From counting pennies beneath Levy’s watch, the Lilywhites are throwing their newfound monetary weight beneath the ENIC regime. However will Tonali be definitely worth the funding?

Why Spurs must be getting enthusiastic about Tonali’s pre-season kind

Be it for managers, gamers, supporters and fantasy soccer fanatics, it is typically unwise to learn an excessive amount of into pre-season, with a constructive summer time set to be shortly evaporated if issues go awry this weekend.

And but, there isn’t any denying that it has been a constructive summer time for Roberto De Zerbi‘s aspect, having gone unbeaten throughout pre-season, a run that included the 2-1 win over rivals Chelsea regardless of dropping Kevin Danso to a purple card.

That outing with the Blues additionally noticed Tonali web for the primary time in Tottenham colors, the Italian rifling in from vary to epitomise his quick affect in his new environment.

Whereas damage has stored Fernandes on the sidelines, the previous Newcastle United man has been entrance and centre in De Zerbi’s midfield unit, already wanting like a possible game-changer for the north London aspect.

Within the assembly with Getafe earlier this month, as an example, the 26-year-old accomplished 100% of his dribbles, 100% of his tackles and received 4 out of his 5 floor duels, dropping the ball simply 5 instances from his 62 touches.

REUTERS/Hollie Adams

Extra just lately too in opposition to Hoffenheim, Tonali performed the total 90 minutes in that 3-0 win over the German outfit, once more dropping possession on simply 5 events from 67 touches, whereas boasting a stellar 96% go accuracy.

That capacity to retain possession has maybe been a shock characteristic to his sport, with the skin view of his time at St James’ Park having been that he was all hustle and bustle, an actual workhorse alongside Bruno Guimaraes.

There’s evidently some silk to match the metal, nevertheless, with De Zerbi seemingly onto a winner right here already. Might comparable strikes be set to observe?

How Spurs can repeat Tonali deal earlier than the deadline

Brentford awaits on Saturday night, however there’s loads of work nonetheless to be carried out at N17, with the nice begin to the window more likely to be swiftly forgotten if different areas of the pitch aren’t addressed.

REUTERS/Hollie Adams

A brand new quantity 9 seems to be a precedence, amid ongoing hyperlinks to Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, though one in every of Richarlison or Dominic Solanke is more likely to need to depart at the start.

As for the flanks, properly the pursuit of Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo stays ongoing, with that potential deal more likely to be tied into the Anfield aspect’s personal transfer for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.

If issues all fall into place, this might be a “very fast switch”, within the view of journalist Joost Blaauwhof, with the Dutch insider offering the most recent to Redmen TV.

Loads rests on Liverpool’s Barcola bid, but when Spurs do bide their time, there will surely be advantage in snapping up Gakpo this summer time, even after a blended time of it Anfield.

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In Tonali’s case, the previous Newcastle man needed to endure his personal ups and downs beneath Eddie Howe, lacking virtually the whole lot of 2023/24 as a consequence of his playing ban, whereas additionally a part of a disappointing collective season in 2025/26, because the Magpies slid down the desk.

It was in 2024/25 the place he actually shone, nevertheless, subsequently lauded by Paul Scholes as one of the best midfielder within the Premier League and even “higher than Declan Rice”.

That very same yr additionally proved a major one for Gakpo, the Dutchman rising as a key man beneath compatriot Arne Slot, scoring ten and aiding 4 as Liverpool received the title.

Like Tonali, there was a drop-off final trip, as he scored simply seven league objectives, but there’s sufficient purpose to be inspired, as his 50 objectives in simply over 180 video games for the Reds level to.

REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

At 27, Gakpo additionally mirrors the Italian as one other participant who can instantly make an affect in north London, not merely one other prospect whom De Zerbi should nurture and develop.

The hope might be that he can recapture the shape he showcased again in Holland, having scored and assisted 21 objectives in simply his remaining 14 begins within the Eredivisie for PSV Eindhoven.

REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

Tonali has additionally beforehand proven what he can do in his homeland, his remaining Serie A marketing campaign at AC Milan seeing him chalk up 9 objectives and assists from central midfield, having emerged as an actual chief within the aspect – like Gakpo at PSV – regardless of his relative youth.

It is also price noting the similarity between the pair on the worldwide scene, with Tonali an actual shining mild in a troublesome time for Italy, scoring 4 objectives in 32 caps for his nation thus far.

It is not a classic period for the Netherlands both, however Gakpo has so typically been the primary man, scoring three objectives on the World Cup this summer time to take his report to 24 in 54 video games up to now.

Prefer it did for Tonali, the potential £70m+ asking worth for the versatile ahead would possibly elevate eyebrows, but Gakpo might properly be the injection of high quality Tottenham are craving.