The signing of Sandro Tonali with Tottenham Hotspur is noteworthy.
Spurs finished 17th last season, but let us remind you of that fact. But as the early turnovers of the summer transfer window proved, the Lilywhites are no ordinary team in danger of being relegated.
They may not always be winning trophies all the time, but the North Londoners are a much better team than their league position would suggest. They have more money than their fight at the bottom suggests.
Their new stadium has brought huge amounts of extra income to the club and, with Roberto De Zerbi now in charge, they have a manager capable of attracting elite talent to Tottenham.
As a result, they not only signed Tonali, but also Matheus Fernandes. Cumulatively, it has cost £185 million, with more to come.
What’s next for Spurs after signing Tonali?
With £100 million spent to bring the Italian to Tottenham from Newcastle, you would be forgiven for thinking there isn’t much money left in the coffers.
Let’s think again. Spurs are moving forward and are ready to spend big up front. There are a lot of options lined up, and they all look pretty exciting.
Rafael Leao seems to be the first choice at the moment. Negotiations have begun with the player’s camp regarding his future at AC Milan, and he appears open to a move to the Premier League.
Manchester City winger Sabinho is also at the center of discussion, while RB Leipzig’s young superstar Antonio Nusa is also in the spotlight.
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But none are as exciting as Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Crupi. In recent days, it has emerged that De Zerbi’s side are considering a huge offer of £85m to encourage the Cherries to sell the Frenchman.
That said, as TEAMtalk reported this week, the Cherries insist their young striker is not for sale this summer.
Despite this, Tottenham believe Crupi is open to a move and hope to at least start talks about a potential move in the coming months.
Spurs believe the deal could be completed for £75m, although previous reports suggested it could cost up to £90m.
Why Crupi will be Spurs’ best signing of the summer
To be honest, the signing of Tonali and Fernandes was surprising.
Tonali vs Fernandes (25/26 league) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | Tonali | Fernandes |
shot | 0.7 | 0.6 |
the goal | 0 | 0.1 |
assist | 0.1 | 0.2 |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.2 | 1.2 |
Pass accuracy | 84% | 87% |
The tackle I made | 1.3 | 3.1 |
Take-up completed | 0.7 | 0.9 |
foul win | 1.5 | 1.5 |
won an aerial battle | 0.5 | 0.6 |
Won a ground duel | 3.4 | 5.4 |
The simple fact is that the Spurs have not been able to compete for these contracts in recent years. They haven’t even come to the negotiating table to do so.
But the Lewis family’s cash injection clearly worked wonders, as did the revenue from the new stadium. Tottenham suddenly look like a big team and their early performances prove just that.
At Tonali, they will be signing “one of the best midfielders in Europe”, as Johan Lange said at the time of the Italian’s arrival.
Even if a gambling ban threatens to derail his career in English football, he is certainly one of the best technicians in the Premier League in recent years. He will add a lot to this Spurs midfield from experience, leadership and from passing to tackling and ball carrying.
But he’s no Crupi, and he’s not a player with true superstar potential. The possibility of becoming the best player in the world. That feels like an exaggeration, but being 19 years old is just that great. Don’t be surprised if in a few years he becomes the best striker on the planet.
why? Well, no teenager has scored more goals than him (13 goals) in his debut season in the Premier League. Crupi joined from Ligue 2 side Lorient a year ago and has flourished like a duck to water at Bournemouth.
He has already earned a reputation as a versatile player, with Daniel Sturridge praising him as “one of the best finishers in the Premier League” and GOAL calling him “the next Mbappe.”
He is fast, has top-notch movement, is active in front of goal, and is versatile. This young player can not only play as a striker, but also as a number 10 or on either flank. During his last season in France, the youngster scored 7 goals in 6 games as a left winger.
What Spurs have lost since Harry Kane left is not just a ruthless and reliable centre-forward, but a genuine superstar. It’s a bit extreme to suggest Crupi could approach England’s legendary forward at any time, but he has huge potential and could be the centre-forward they’ve been coveting since his departure in 2024.
Tonali is a player who can add some level to the midfield, while Crupi is a player who can really help Spurs move up the table thanks to his goalscoring ability.
