£85m superstar wants to sign for Spurs

When it comes to Tottenham Hotspur, they have always been accused of a lack of ambition and hunger to really go to the next level.

Sure, their stadium is perhaps the best in the country but it’s a pity they do not show the same level of ambition in the transfer market.

They have lacked the same pulling power as their rivals. Arsenal have gone to great lengths to strengthen their squad in recent years. The £105m addition of Declan Rice proved to be a huge moment in their bid to win the Premier League title.

That’s exactly how a big club should operate. They should be able to entice the division’s top players to the club. For Spurs, however, it has been a very different story.

Yet, could that all be about to change?

Spurs line up their biggest move in history

The Lilywhites are having quite the start to the summer transfer window with two moves already wrapped up.

After finishing 17th for a successive season, manager Roberto De Zerbi said no holidays would be taken and it really does look as though that has been the case.

Behind the scenes, the recruitment team have been working tirelessly and have already concluded deals for two defenders; Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. Signed on free transfers, they represent excellent signings, not just from a business point of view but also from a footballing standpoint.

Yet, money will have to spent more intently. Fortunately, they are working hard on other moves. Jan Paul van Hecke is likely to be the next signing but they will have to up their offer having already seen a series of bids rejected for the Dutchman.

Whatever they pay for the centre-back, it is unlikely to be as much as they will have to pay for Sandro Tonali. Yes, the Italian really is on the club’s radar.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Lilywhites have opened talks with the Italian regarding a move. Those discussions have so far been described as ‘positive’ and while no club-to-club contact has occured yet, it can be expected to follow.

Spurs are pushing hard to seal a move and the player is allegedly open to heading to north London to join Spurs.

Sharing further news on the prospective deal, Fabrizio Romano stated on YouTube: “Tottenham want to go for him. Roberto De Zerbi wants him. They are from the same city in Italy, Brescia, so there is a very good connection. They are very determined to sign him. He is keen on a move and is open to joining Tottenham, even without European football.”

Why Tonali could be Spurs’ best player since Harry Kane

A superstar. That’s what Spurs need right now. Well, they need a lot more than that but it would certainly help proceedings to sign some genuine elite-level talents.

Within two years of each other, Tottenham saw Harry Kane and Heung-min Son both depart. They have been huge losses.

Ange Postecoglou may have steered them to a Europa League title but on the domestic scene they have been embarrasing. Kane and Son have both watched on from afar as Spurs battle relegation.

Replacing them this summer feels pivotal. They have allegedly already held talks over a move for Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic while several wingers have been earmarked including Lyon’s Malick Fofana, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Manchester City’s Savinho.

Yet, the biggest move of all would be Tonali. Valued at £85m, it would smash their current transfer record and in the process, they would have their superstar talent, a player capable of taking them to the next level, just as Kane did for so many years in the white of Spurs.

Sure, the Italian may not be a prolific centre forward but he carries an aura about him. He knows how good he is. Tonali would arrive and immediately be crowned as the best player at the club. This is Spurs’ Rice-like signing.

Arsenal co-owner Josh Kroenke coined their acquisition of the England man as a “big moment” in the project. It was one that helped them break the glass ceiling. Within a few years they were Premier League winners and Champions League finalists.

Spurs are obviously a far way behind in their cycle but it would be their ‘big moment’, a signing that makes the league sit up and take notice in all of the right ways. It’s rare you can say that about any Spurs move in the last few years.

So, what makes him such a special player? Well, hailed as “one of the best midfielders in the world” by his agent Beppe Riso, he’s been dazzling in the Premier League for a while now.

Aged 26, the Italy international is approaching his prime and would fix plenty of the issues Spurs have in midfield.

One of the big problems was the lack of ability to progress play. Well, Tonali’s haul of 6.12 progressive carries per 90 is better than any midfielder managed at Spurs last season. The top midfielder for them in that regard was Pape Matar Sarr with 5.56 per 90.

As far as chance creation goes, Tonali also trumps every Spurs midfielder with 1.13 chances created per 90. Conor Gallagher topped the charts for midfielders back in north London with 0.98.

Usually when you think of a superstar, it is a forward player like Kane or Son. Yet, Tonali, with his pedigree, reputation and quality, could help finally replace the star power they left behind.