Spurs make approach to sign £80m midfielder

Where on earth would this Tottenham Hotspur team be if they still had Harry Kane in their ranks? Well, probably not reeling from back to back 17th place finishes.

Every Spurs fan knew it was bad news when the legendary striker departed but little did they know the club would spiral so out of control.

Sure, the Lilywhites have won the Europa League, but their form on the domestic stage has been simply unacceptable. Roberto De Zerbi rescued them from relegation and there is now a promise of greener pastures.

Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have both been lured in by that same promise, signing on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth. Now, another set of Premier League players could be inbound.

With the transfer window now open for the summer, Tottenham are attempting to write their wrongs and are doing so by signing Premier League proven talent.

It’s a strategy that has been well refined and well used by their rivals across the city, with Arsenal signing the likes of Declan Rice, David Raya and Eberechi Eze from within the Premier League.

Spurs have already signed two Prem-proven players and are now aiming to secure another couple. Jan Paul van Hecke looks well poised to join the club from Brighton, although there is still some work to be done on that one.

Talk has even emerged of a sensational move for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali. The Toon midfielder has attracted the interest of Manchester United and Arsenal this summer but Spurs are the latest club to show an interest according to Fabrizio Romano.

It would be a remarkable coup if they are able to beat England’s biggest sides to the signing of the Italian, yet there has also been rumours of West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes joining. Coincidentally, he was a player who was relegated as a result of Spurs’ final day win over Everton.

Fernandes may well have suffered the drop but he was a rare shining light for the Irons and has attracted a lot of interest as a result. Arsenal have held talks, as have Manchester United.

However, according to reporter Ben Jacobs, Spurs have also been in contact with the Hammers regarding the £80m-rated midfielder.

Appearing as a guest on The Last Word on Spurs podcast, Jacobs said: “They are looking at the market with various names. They made an enquiry for Mateus Fernandes even though the direction of travel there is Manchester United or PSG. Real Madrid may even get involved there.”

Why Fernandes could be even better than Sandro Tonali

Injuries and bad managerial appointments aside, one of the primary reasons for Spurs’ plight in recent years has been their recruitment.

It’s something that’s well known. Speaking on the Overlap in the 2025/26 season, Ange Postecoglou dug out the club for their lack of ability to attract the very best players.

The Aussie said a few months ago: “We had to sign Premier League-leading players but finishing fifth that year didn’t get us Champions League, we didn’t have the money. So we ended up signing Dom Solanke. I was really keen on him, I really liked him. Then three teenagers.

“I was looking at Pedro Neto, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Antoine] Semenyo at the time, Marc Guehi, because I said if we’re going to go from fifth to challenging, that’s what the other big clubs would do in that moment.”

Well, it looks as though the hierarchy have finally listened to that message. Robertson and Senesi are a strong starting point but Fernandes or Tonali would give them an elite midfielder who could genuinely take this project to the next level. Last season it did feel as though they were lacking a superstar but if they could get one of these over the line, they would finally have one again.

Ever since trading Milan for Newcastle, Tonali has been making a splash in English football. He’s incredibly tidy in possession of the ball, can progress play well and win it back. He doesn’t pop up a huge amount in the final third but that aside he’s a very well rounded package.

That said, Fernandes could be even better. His potential is enormous and for a lower price – Fernandes is valued at £80m compared to Tonali’s £100m price tag – they would strike gold here.

Already a “superstar” in the words of writer Joost van der Leij, when compared to U21 players who are positionally similiar across Europe’s best seven leagues, the 21-year-old ranked first for possession won, defensive duels won and interceptions. He also ranked second for progressive passes completed. Tonali was a wonderkid in Milan but even he was not putting in the type of gladitorial displays we’re seeing from West Ham’s Portuguese sensation at the same age.

Fernandes is sensational at recovering possession and winning duels but his primary function is to get the ball forward as quickly as possible. He’s one of the most efficient progressors of a ball on the continent.

While Tonali may win out in quite a few metrics the difference between the two is incredibly slim right now. Consider the West Ham man is five years younger as well and there is a belief that he could be significantly better than the Newcastle midfielder once he reaches his peak.

Other metrics prove that. Indeed, according to the data, the two best ‘ground eaters’ in the Premier League during 2025/26 were a certain Rice and Fernandes. No other midfielders had a higher ratio of progressive carry distance to turnover per carry.

He’s press resistant, cool in possession and capable of carrying the ball long distances. What is there not to like?

Already up there with Rice for one metric, there is a believe that in a few years time, he will become one of the best midfielders in the world.

Sure, he’s yet to display it in the Champions League or on the international stage like Tonali but he’s an elite talent in the making, if he isn’t already one. It’s just a pity he looks more likely to join one of Europe’s biggest clubs instead. The big-money Italian may have to do instead.