Sandro Tonali is at the centre of a messy summer chase. Tottenham have already seen one £80m offer turned down by Newcastle, and the price being discussed now is closer to £100m. Manchester City and Arsenal are also reported to be in the mix, which makes this much harder than a simple Spurs push.

Tottenham's problem is the price

Newcastle's stance is not subtle. They rejected the £80m offer and are now holding out for around £100m, which would be a big leap from what Tottenham have already put on the table. Spurs' current transfer record is Dominic Solanke at £65m, so Tonali would go beyond anything they have done before if they got this deal over the line.

That is before the competition is even counted properly. Tottenham are not trying to win this alone. Manchester City and Arsenal have both been linked, and City bring the obvious pull of title contention and the Champions League. Spurs can sell a central role, but they cannot pretend they are operating in a quiet market.

De Zerbi's link could still matter

Roberto De Zerbi is being treated as a key factor in Tonali's decision-making. Ben Jacobs said Spurs are optimistic the Italian wants the move, while Chris Waugh reported that the personal connection between De Zerbi and Tonali has helped Tottenham's attempts to lure him away from Newcastle.

There is a football reason this feels alive as well as a financial one. Tonali's last five Newcastle league games have produced a 6.94 average rating, which suggests steady form rather than a player drifting out of the frame. Giuseppe Riso, Tonali's agent, said the aim from the moment he went to England was to make him a star player. Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson also made clear that any departure would happen on the club's terms.

For now, the important part is that the story is still moving. Spurs have made their pitch, Newcastle have set a higher price, and the presence of City and Arsenal means every round of talks carries more pressure than the last.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →