Why Tottenham’s new Luka Modric will suffer if Tonali & Fernandes sign

How do you respond to finishing 17th in consecutive seasons? Well, if you’re Tottenham Hotspur, it’s by throwing the kitchen sink and the bathroom sink at the transfer window.

Have you ever seen anything quite like this from Spurs? It’s been a rip-roaring start to their summer plans with Jan Paul van Hecke signing in a mega £52m deal from Brighton. He knows Roberto De Zerbi well so that one should be a match made in heaven.

Before bolstering any other area of the squad, it would appear that the defence was the biggest priority. Van Hecke is not the only player to sign in that regard.

Indeed, the Lilywhites moved incredibly swiftly to secure the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively.

Next up could be two mega-money midfielders in the form of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

The latest on Tonali and Fernandes to Spurs

News broke a couple of weeks ago revealing that Spurs were firmly in the race to sign Tonali. They are not just in the race, however, they are genuine contenders to lure him away from Newcastle United.

The north Londonders are desperately trying to seal a statement signing this summer and in the form of the Italian, they would certainly do so.

The latest on that move is that Spurs are preparing a mega £100m bid to lure him away from St James’ Park, totally obliterating their transfer record in the process.

That said, while Tonali is open to linking up with De Zerbi, the threat of an Arsenal hijack is real here, particularly as it has been reported that the midfielder would pick the Gunners if they formally entered the picture.

Not just content with pursuing the Toon star, Tottenham would also like to sign Fernandes from West Ham. This isn’t a case of one or the other, they genuinely want both.

Despite interest from Manchester United, this one does feel as though it has a better chance of happening, although it could take a massive £85m.

Revealing the latest on a move, Fabrizio Romano has indicated that the player is open to signing for both United and Spurs and is waiting for one of the teams to agree a fee before deciding.

What the arrivals of Tonali and Fernandes would mean for the Spurs midfield

When you finish 17th in the Premier League, there is never going to be only one reason for that. Yes, Tottenham suffered plenty of injuries. Yes, Spurs had the fourth worst defensive record in the division.

However, they not only struggled at the back but they also found life difficult in midfield. Conor Gallagher arrived in January but failed to inspire much of a turnaround until De Zerbi came in with a month or so left of the season.

Tonali and Fernandes, therefore, could take Spurs to greater heights. In the words of his agent, Beppe Riso, Tonali is “one of the best midfielders in the world”. He’s progressive, he’s tidy with the ball at his feet and he’s aggressive too.

Fernandes is arguably the better all rounder. He is a complete package. The Portuguese can win duels aplenty, contribute effectively in the final third and run enormous distances each match. It said it all that he ranked among the top ten for most kilometers run among midfielders in the top-flight last season.

It’s safe to say that these two big-money stars would walk straight into the Spurs team. That is bad news for any midfielder at De Zerbi’s disposal but it would appear to have irked one more than most; Lucas Bergvall.

Reports in recents days have suggested that the £50m-rated star wants out of Spurs with a whole host of clubs interested, including Chelsea and Aston Villa.

Despite the potential arrival of Tonali and Fernandes, this one would sting for Spurs supporters. After all, Bergvall has been one of a few shining lights at the club in the last two years. He is still only 20 years of age too. He’s a rare piece of good investment from the recruitment team.

When the Swede arrived, Spurs welcomed him to the club having seen off Barcelona to secure the signing of a player who was being described as a “generational” talent in some circles.

While Bergvall has yet to reach his true potential just yet, he has still caught the eye. Before an injury hit 2025/26 campaign, the youngster was one of the first names on the teamsheet. The Athletic’s JJ Bull notably waxed lyrical, suggesting he even had “a first touch like Luka Modric“.

Yet, the last year or so has not been as kind. He started just 11 matches in the league all season and only started once under De Zerbi. He was an unused sub in the last two matches.

So, it’s evident the Italian does not rate him as highly as previous Spurs managers. The fact he wants to sign two midfielders this summer says it all. For Bergvall, unfortunately this looks like it could be the end of the road for his career in the north of the English capital.