Tottenham are planning an ambitious swoop to sign Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali.
The north London side have made the Italian international their absolute main target for the summer window as they look to aggressively rebuild their side after a nerve-wracking season that saw them survive relegation by one game.
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Spurs have already had their bid rejected but are expected to come back with a new offer
Tottenham are already making concrete moves behind the scenes, with negotiations starting with an official bid of around £80m, according to the BBC.
Unsurprisingly, this initial bet was quickly bounced back by Newcastle, who were holding out for a much higher package, close to €100m.
Despite the initial rejection, the Spurs aren’t backing down. The club’s hierarchy is poised to return with a much improved secondary offer.
Roberto de Zerbi has long admired his compatriot since his early breakthrough at Brescia and sees the 26-year-old midfielder as a cornerstone on which to build his dynamic new project in north London.
Sandro Tonali open to joining Tottenham
According to the latest information from the Daily Mail, Tonali is keen to join De Zerbi at Tottenham, having been deeply intrigued by the lure of working with the Italian tactician.
However, a major transfer battle is brewing in north London. It is understood that Tonali is Arsenal’s absolute preference should they decide to solidify their interest in him.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s recruitment staff have been keeping a close eye on the midfielder’s situation for several weeks.
Should Arsenal match the final transfer fee or escalate their pursuit, Tonali would support a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City are also considering the acquisition of midfield players and are closely monitoring the developments.
Signing Tonali would be a big statement of intent from Spurs
Landing Tonali would be one of Tottenham’s biggest transfer coups in recent years.
The Newcastle star has already established himself as one of the most complete midfielders in the Premier League, combining technical qualities, defensive awareness and leadership qualities at the highest level.
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Beating rivals such as Arsenal and Manchester City to sign him would send a clear message that Spurs intend to compete at the top end once again.
With Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke already arriving this summer, signing Tonali would further underline Tottenham’s ambitions, providing De Zerbi with a true midfield leader and a new team around which to build.
