Tottenham Hotspur are stepping up their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, with growing confidence that a deal could be completed in the coming days. The North London club have made the Italy international one of their priority targets this summer as they look to strengthen their midfield options under new manager Roberto De Zerbi.
Reports have indicated that Spurs are determined to move quickly in order to fend off interest from rival clubs. Their desire to secure Tonali’s signature has been well documented, with transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio revealing that Tottenham have already submitted an opening bid for the Newcastle star.
That initial proposal was believed to be worth around £75 million, but Newcastle were reportedly holding out for a fee closer to £85 million before considering a sale. Unsurprisingly, Spurs’ first approach was turned down, although it has done little to discourage De Zerbi, who remains eager to reunite with his fellow Italian at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With negotiations continuing behind the scenes, a second offer is now expected to arrive shortly.
Fresh updates emerge from Italy
Italian journalist Orazio Accomando has provided a significant update on the situation, claiming that Tonali has already given his approval to a move to Tottenham. According to his information, the midfielder is open to joining De Zerbi’s project, leaving Spurs focused on reaching an agreement with Newcastle.
The Premier League side are understood to be keen to avoid a lengthy transfer saga and are therefore preparing a new bid before the end of the week. Tottenham’s hierarchy believe that acting decisively could prevent other European clubs from entering the race and potentially complicating negotiations.
Accomando suggests the final transfer fee could rise to around £90 million, slightly above Newcastle’s reported asking price and marginally different from earlier figures mentioned by other sources.
Meanwhile, respected transfer insider Alfredo Pedullà has also weighed in on the situation. Pedullà expects Tottenham to return with an improved offer and believes the club are prepared to break through the €100 million barrier if necessary to secure their top midfield target.
De Zerbi’s influence becoming clear
The pursuit of Tonali is another sign of the growing influence De Zerbi is having on Tottenham’s transfer strategy. When the Italian was appointed, reports from his homeland suggested he would be given a major role in identifying and approving transfer targets, and the club’s aggressive approach for Tonali appears to support that view.
Strengthening the midfield has been viewed as one of Tottenham’s key objectives this summer. While the squad already possesses quality in central areas, De Zerbi is believed to want a player capable of dictating play, controlling possession, and adding greater tactical flexibility.
Tonali fits that profile perfectly. The 26-year-old is comfortable operating as a deep-lying defensive midfielder, shielding the back line and helping initiate attacks from deep positions. However, he is equally capable of pushing forward into a box-to-box role, making him an attractive option for a manager who values versatility and technical quality.
Should Tottenham succeed in landing the former AC Milan star, it would represent one of the biggest transfers of the summer window and send a strong statement about the club’s ambitions under De Zerbi. For now, all eyes are on the next round of negotiations as Spurs attempt to convince Newcastle to part ways with one of their most influential players.
