Tottenham are preparing for another big push to sign Sandro Tonali as Roberto De Zerbi continues to rebuild their midfield ahead of his first full season in charge in the Premier League.
Spurs have made the Italy international one of their key transfer priorities during the summer transfer window.
Tottenham’s interest in Tonali has been widely reported for several weeks, with talks also taking place with the midfielder’s agent as the club explore potential deal terms.
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These negotiations are understood to have been positive, but Newcastle’s determination to get top dollar for one of their most important players remains the biggest hurdle.
Tottenham have already tested Newcastle’s resolve with an offer worth around £80 million.
Offers on offer: Tottenham submit bid of £65m upfront to sign ‘ready-to-read’ player
Spurs are determined to back Roberto De Zerbi.
The offer was rejected, with the Magpies believed to have significantly increased Tonali’s value as they look to build their organization around him for the future.
The 26-year-old has developed into one of the Premier League’s outstanding midfielders since joining from AC Milan.
His ability to dictate the tempo, win the ball and advance the ball into midfield made him a key figure in Eddie Howe’s side.
Tonali carried that form onto the international stage with Italy, creating a series of composed plays in midfield that cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s elite central midfielders.
It has been reported how far Spurs are prepared to go after the Lilywhites’ opening offer was rejected.
Spurs prepare £100m bid for Tonali
According to transfer journalist Graham Bailey, Tottenham are prepared to make a “sensational” offer for Tonali worth around £100m.
De Zerbi considers the Newcastle star to be the “key player” in his midfield rebuild and is said to want him to be a key figure in Tottenham’s new team.
This would be the biggest transfer in Spurs’ history and underlines the club’s ambitions under their new manager, with Newcastle’s offer widely reported to be £100m.
Why De Zerbi wants to sign Tottenham’s Sandro Tonali
Tonali’s profile is thought to be a key element in De Zerbi’s thinking, with the Italian also thought to have targeted the former Serie A star during his time at Sassuolo (BBC).
With this in mind, it’s clear that De Zerbi is the one really pushing Tonali behind the scenes.
Tonali made 53 appearances in all competitions in 2025/26, scoring three goals and providing seven assists from midfield despite Newcastle’s struggles under Eddie Howe.
But Newcastle remain in a strong position.
Tonali has signed a long-term contract and was one of the first names on Howe’s team sheet.
He started the majority of Newcastle’s big matches last season and was regularly praised for his leadership and maturity in midfield.
For Tottenham, the move would be an important statement after a summer in which they focused on strengthening the backbone of their squad.
De Zerbi is understood to want more control and creativity in central areas, and Tonali is seen as a player who can change the balance of the team.
Spurs are also rumored to be signing young midfield options such as West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes during this period, but Tonali is seen as an outstanding target.
Bailey’s latest update suggests that Tottenham are now preparing to go beyond exploratory talks and previous bids with an offer that could reach the £100m mark.
It remains unclear whether that will be enough to convince Newcastle to sell him, but Tottenham appear to be more determined than ever to sign Tonali, with manager de Zerbi pushing for a major signing before the start of the new season.
‘It’s a bit of a surprise’ – Sandro Tonali’s agent tells Tottenham
The Lilywhites are chasing a huge contract for the Italian player.
