Spurs targeting another £100m-plus transfer

In 2026, spending has gone wild and Tottenham Hotspur are one of the main protagonists in that story.

While Manchester City may well have signed Elliot Anderson for £116m, Spurs also upset the equalibrium, firstly landing Mateus Fernandes for a mighty £85m before sealing the signature of Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali for an earth-shattering £100m fee.

Their transfer record was destroyed in the process and it was a huge sign of intent from a club who have usually always been the bridesmaid.

This time, however, they are the bride. They are the centre of the attention this summer and for a good reason on this occasion. Another relegation battle feels some way off now.

How Tonali could transform Spurs

When Tottenham were first linked with a move for the former Newcastle United man it felt like a pipe dream. The word on the street was that if Arsenal came calling, he would choose from instead.

Oh dear. This felt like another Eberechi Eze situation just waiting to happen. However, the Gunners never did and in the end, the Lilywhites had a free run at sealing the move. They did to the tune of a sum they have never paid out before. Talk about making the rest of the league stand up and take notice.

So, why did they pay such a huge sum of money for the Italy international? Well, in the words of his agent Beppe Riso – who of course is rather bias to the situation – he is “one of the best midfielders in the world”, but even we find that sentiment difficult to argue with.

Since joining from AC Milan, the former Toon star has just been going from strength to strength. “I fell in love watching him play the game” muttered Eddie Howe back in 2023 and it’s rather easy to see why.

The definition of a midfield maestro, this is player cut from a similar cloth as Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric. That’s not just because of the wavy hair but it’s because of their class on the ball. Tonali simply oozes it when he’s in possession, picking out passes but also evading the press with absolute ease.

He’s an all-rounder. He’s not a box-to-box midfielder, he’s not a metronome like Andrea Pirlo, nor is he a box-crashing number eight. No, he’s something inbetween all of those.

Tonali is perfectly suited to Premier League football. With 18 goal involvements across the last two seasons, he can contribute effectively in the final third but he’s also no slouch defensively. The former Magpie made 5.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes last term with only Rodrigo Bentancur of the Spurs midfielders managing more (6.2).

All that said, remarkably, Roberto De Zerbi may well find a way to eclipse that deal in the forthcoming weeks.

A bigger signing than Tonali could be on the way

What a summer this is turning out to be the north Londoners and more could be on the way. Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi continues to be touted with a switch and is reportedly keen on making the move from the south coast to the English capital.

Likewise, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is intent on finding a way out of Italy and is up for a move to Spurs. Whether or not they view him as a priority, however, remains to be seen.

It seems that if De Zerbi could attract any other player from the Premier League it would be Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. The England international is Arsenal’s top target this summer and they are reportedly closing in on agreeing personal terms with the 23-year-old.

However, Tottenham could be at the table too. Club insider Paul O’Keefe noted at the beginning of this week that they are “big big admirers” of Rogers but that he will have “better options” this summer.

He may well do but that has not deterred Spurs this summer. They are ready to compete with the boys to land the division’s best talents and Rogers certainly fits into that category.

So, what’s all the fuss about? Well, it’s safe to say he’s made a bigger splash than Tonali in recent years. The Villa star has quickly established himself as one of the finest forwards in the Premier League and he’s managed to achieve that with a team outside of your typical big six.

He is the talisman of Unai Emery’s side. He is Villa’s finest talent since a certain Jack Grealish donned the famous claret and blue; he may well have outstripped his legacy too.

Now valued at a ridiculous £130m, Rogers is a Europa League winner, a PFA Young Player of the Year winner and if you didn’t already know, he’s a mighty fine footballer.

This is a player capable of taking Spurs to new heights, much more so than Tonali. The Italian is fine acquisition in himself but what they have needed since Harry Kane left and particularly since Heung-min Son exited a year ago, is a player of elite quality in the final third.

Rogers may not be quite up there with the best in the world just yet but his output speaks for itself. He scored 14 and registered 16 assists in 2024/25 before scoring another 14 and supplying 12 assists in 2025/26.

He’s got this aura about him that not many footballers carry. He’s a little like Jude Bellingham in that regard. They are best mates after all.

Spurs need a new talisman, a new focal point of the attack and in Rogers, they would find that. Tonali is such an impressive capture but given this is Arsenal’s leading target, if they could get a deal done here too, it would be simply incredible.