Tottenham Targets Sandro Tonali as De Zerbi Drives Ambitious Move

Tottenham Hotspur are pushing to pull off one of the most audacious midfield signings of the summer, with Sandro Tonali ready to join Roberto De Zerbi’s new project in north London, according to multiple leading transfer reporters.

The Italy international, currently at Newcastle United, has emerged as the marquee target for De Zerbi as Spurs attempt to reshape their identity and send a message to the rest of the Premier League.

De Zerbi’s man

Fabrizio Romano revealed late on Monday that Tottenham have launched a major move for Tonali, with the new Spurs head coach personally driving the pursuit.

On his YouTube channel, Romano described Tottenham as “very strong, very concrete, very determined” to land the midfielder, stressing one crucial detail: Tonali himself is keen.

According to Romano, Tonali is “open to joining Tottenham” and “ready to join Spurs, even without European football, even after a terrible season for Tottenham Hotspur.” The 24‑year‑old is said to be attracted by the project and eager to work under De Zerbi, a coach whose aggressive, possession-heavy style has turned heads across Europe.

That alignment matters. Spurs are not just chasing a name; De Zerbi wants a specific profile to elevate his system, and Tonali fits it.

A nine‑figure battle

The enthusiasm from London is only half the story. The other half sits on Tyneside, where Newcastle’s stance is clear: Tonali will not come cheap.

TEAMtalk’s transfer insider Graeme Bailey reports that Newcastle will only seriously consider a sale if an offer exceeds £100 million. Internally, the club still view Tonali as a cornerstone asset. CEO David Hopkinson labelled him “a superstar player” on talkSPORT back in February 2026, and that valuation has not softened.

Newcastle’s negotiating hand has been strengthened by the £70m sale of Anthony Gordon, easing immediate financial pressure and allowing them to stand firm on Tonali’s price. According to Ben Jacobs, the club are “braced for offers” but know the Italian is exploring his options.

The figure being discussed around Tottenham is a package of about €100m, roughly £85m, as Romano has outlined. That may not be enough to move Newcastle. If Spurs truly want to close this, they may have to step into the territory Newcastle have drawn as their line in the sand.

Spurs move ahead of Arsenal and City

Tonali is not a secret in the Premier League market. Arsenal and Manchester City have both made enquiries this year, according to Romano and Jacobs, and have been in contact for weeks.

Yet the landscape has shifted.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Tottenham have held “positive talks” with Tonali’s camp, with ENIC and the Spurs hierarchy fully backing De Zerbi’s push for a statement signing. Ornstein describes Spurs as “most advanced over a proposed deal,” despite the interest from their domestic rivals.

Jacobs backs that picture: Spurs have opened talks with the player, the move is “driven by Roberto De Zerbi and backed by the ownership,” and “significant funds” are being lined up to strengthen both midfield and attack.

For a club that finished last season adrift and out of Europe, this is a bold play. De Zerbi wants Tonali as the flagship of a rebuild, and Tottenham appear prepared to spend like a club determined to close the gap at the top.

Italy’s pull, England’s reality

There is another tension running underneath the saga. Tonali’s camp have informed Newcastle that the midfielder wants to leave, and his preference, sources say, would be a return to Italy.

AC Milan, his former club, are among those keen to bring him back to Serie A. Jacobs notes that Tonali “would welcome a return to Italy,” a natural pull for a player who became a star in Milan’s colours and grew up in Italian football.

The numbers, though, tell a harsher story. The total cost of any deal — fee, wages, and structure — makes a move to Serie A highly unlikely. Italian clubs, even the biggest, struggle to compete with the Premier League’s financial muscle at nine‑figure levels.

That opens a window for Spurs. Tonali may dream of going home, but the most concrete, realistic path out of Newcastle currently runs through north London.

A defining test for Spurs’ ambition

All the pieces are on the table.

• A manager with a clear vision and a specific target.
• A player prepared to join, even without the lure of European nights.
• Owners willing to bankroll a statement.
• And a selling club that will only blink at a truly enormous bid.

Tottenham have talked for years about matching ambition with action. Tonali is the kind of signing that defines whether that talk finally becomes reality.