Tottenham's Ambitious Double Swoop for Tonali and Fernandes
Tottenham Hotspur have already torn into this summer’s window. Four big names are through the door, a new spine is taking shape, and Roberto De Zerbi’s squad looks markedly stronger than it did in May.
They are not done yet. Not even close.
After securing Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka, Spurs have turned the spotlight on the heart of their team. The message from the recruitment team is blunt: the midfield must be rebuilt for De Zerbi’s football, and it must be rebuilt with elite talent.
At the top of that list sit two names: Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
Tonali pursuit stays alive despite rejected £80m bid
Tottenham’s interest in Tonali is no longer a whisper. It is the headline of their summer strategy.
An £80m bid has already been knocked back by Newcastle United, as reported by Sky Sports on June 20. Newcastle, under pressure to balance ambition with financial reality, are holding firm. TEAMtalk report that they want at least £100m for the Italy international, a figure that reflects both his pedigree and his importance to their project.
Yet the door is not closed. Far from it.
Fabrizio Romano, who first broke the link between Tonali and Spurs last week, has doubled down on his information. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he insisted that Tottenham are still working on a deal for the former AC Milan midfielder and that, in his words, “the deal is on”.
No Manchester City. No other suitors mentioned. Just Tottenham and Tonali, Tonali and Tottenham. That is the axis Romano keeps returning to as he tracks negotiations.
For Spurs, Tonali would be a statement. A deep-lying controller with bite, Champions League experience and the temperament to dictate big games. For Newcastle, losing him would be a wrench, but the numbers being discussed are the kind that reshape a summer.
The pressure now sits on Spurs’ hierarchy: push closer to that £100m mark, or walk away from a player De Zerbi would surely love to build around.
Fernandes chase sets up Premier League tug-of-war
If Tonali is one bold move, trying to pair him with Mateus Fernandes is something else entirely.
Romano has revealed that Tottenham also want Fernandes from West Ham, and they are not alone. Manchester United are in the race as well, even after sealing a deal for Ederson from Atalanta.
West Ham’s stance is clear and ruthless. They want £85m for the Portugal international. No discounts, no sentiment. According to Romano, the club will simply accept the best financial proposal, then leave the decision to the player.
That turns this into a straight bidding war and a test of persuasion.
Romano describes Fernandes as “one of the most intriguing cases” on the current market, and the situation justifies the label. Both Tottenham and Manchester United are, as he puts it, working “behind the scenes”, talking directly to the player while West Ham wait for the highest offer to land on the table.
For Spurs, this is not an either-or scenario. They want both Tonali and Fernandes. The combined outlay? Around £185m if valuations hold: £100m for Tonali, £85m for Fernandes. It is the sort of figure that would have been unthinkable for Tottenham a few years ago. Now it is at least being explored.
United, though, are not stepping aside. Even with Ederson already secured, they remain in for Fernandes, determined to add another dynamic midfielder to their rebuild. As Romano frames it, Tottenham are pushing to close, but Manchester United are “still there” and fully engaged.
So the market edges towards a climax. Two of England’s biggest clubs, one of London’s rising projects under De Zerbi, and a West Ham side ready to cash in if the numbers explode.
Tottenham have started this window with intent. Whether they finish it with Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes in their midfield will say everything about how serious they really are about breaking into the game’s top tier – and how far they are willing to go to get there.
