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

The ability to win the race for Mateus Fernandes felt like a statement for Tottenham Hotspur, but let’s face it, the north Londoners have spent big on young talent before.

It is the £100m signing of Sandro Tonali that has really raised eyebrows, and not just because of the transfer fee, with this a very un-Spurs-like deal, you might say.

Or rather, this would have been a deal supporters could have only dreamed of in the Daniel Levy era, the frugal businessman memorably overseeing an 18-month period without a single senior incoming across 2018 and 2019.

From counting pennies under Levy’s watch, the Lilywhites are throwing their newfound financial weight under the ENIC regime. But will Tonali be worth the investment?

Why Spurs should be getting excited about Tonali’s pre-season form

Be it for managers, players, supporters and fantasy football fanatics, it’s often unwise to read too much into pre-season, with a positive summer set to be quickly evaporated if things go awry this weekend.

And yet, there’s no denying that it has been a positive summer for Roberto De Zerbi‘s side, having gone unbeaten across pre-season, a run that included the 2-1 win over rivals Chelsea despite losing Kevin Danso to a red card.

That outing with the Blues also saw Tonali net for the first time in Tottenham colours, the Italian rifling in from range to epitomise his immediate impact in his new surroundings.

While injury has kept Fernandes on the sidelines, the former Newcastle United man has been front and centre in De Zerbi’s midfield unit, already looking like a potential game-changer for the north London side.

In the meeting with Getafe earlier this month, for instance, the 26-year-old completed 100% of his dribbles, 100% of his tackles and won four out of his five ground duels, losing the ball just five times from his 62 touches.

REUTERS/Hollie Adams

More recently too against Hoffenheim, Tonali played the full 90 minutes in that 3-0 win over the German outfit, again losing possession on just five occasions from 67 touches, while boasting a stellar 96% pass accuracy.

That ability to retain possession has perhaps been a surprise feature to his game, with the outside view of his time at St James’ Park having been that he was all hustle and bustle, a real workhorse alongside Bruno Guimaraes.

There is evidently some silk to match the steel, however, with De Zerbi seemingly onto a winner here already. Could similar moves be set to follow?

How Spurs can repeat Tonali deal before the deadline

Brentford awaits on Saturday evening, but there’s plenty of work still to be done at N17, with the fine start to the window likely to be swiftly forgotten if other areas of the pitch aren’t addressed.

REUTERS/Hollie Adams

A new number nine appears to be a priority, amid ongoing links to Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, although one of Richarlison or Dominic Solanke is likely to have to depart first and foremost.

As for the flanks, well the pursuit of Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo remains ongoing, with that potential deal likely to be tied into the Anfield side’s own move for Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola.

If things all fall into place, this could be a “very quick transfer”, in the view of journalist Joost Blaauwhof, with the Dutch insider providing the latest to Redmen TV.

Plenty rests on Liverpool’s Barcola bid, but if Spurs do bide their time, there would certainly be merit in snapping up Gakpo this summer, even after a mixed time of it Anfield.

REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

In Tonali’s case, the former Newcastle man had to endure his own ups and downs under Eddie Howe, missing almost the entirety of 2023/24 due to his gambling ban, while also part of a disappointing collective season in 2025/26, as the Magpies slid down the table.

It was in 2024/25 where he really shone, however, subsequently lauded by Paul Scholes as the best midfielder in the Premier League and even “better than Declan Rice”.

That same year also proved a significant one for Gakpo, the Dutchman emerging as a key man under compatriot Arne Slot, scoring ten and assisting four as Liverpool won the title.

Like Tonali, there was a drop-off last time out, as he scored just seven league goals, yet there’s enough reason to be encouraged, as his 50 goals in just over 180 games for the Reds point to.

REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

At 27, Gakpo also mirrors the Italian as another player who can immediately make an impact in north London, not merely another prospect whom De Zerbi will have to nurture and develop.

The hope will be that he can recapture the form he showcased back in Holland, having scored and assisted 21 goals in just his final 14 starts in the Eredivisie for PSV Eindhoven.

REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

Tonali has also previously shown what he can do in his homeland, his final Serie A campaign at AC Milan seeing him chalk up nine goals and assists from central midfield, having emerged as a real leader in the side – like Gakpo at PSV – despite his relative youth.

It’s also worth noting the similarity between the pair on the international scene, with Tonali a real shining light in a difficult time for Italy, scoring four goals in 32 caps for his country to date.

It isn’t a vintage era for the Netherlands either, but Gakpo has so often been the main man, scoring three goals at the World Cup this summer to take his record to 24 in 54 games so far.

Like it did for Tonali, the potential £70m+ asking price for the versatile forward might raise eyebrows, yet Gakpo could well be the injection of quality Tottenham are craving.