Tottenham Pursues Tonali as De Zerbi Rebuilds Squad

Tottenham have drawn a clear line in this summer’s market. They don’t just want another midfielder; they want one who can run an entire game. And at the top of Roberto De Zerbi’s list sits Sandro Tonali.

The Newcastle midfielder has emerged as a prime target as De Zerbi begins reshaping a Spurs squad that only just steered itself away from relegation last season. Survival was the first job. Now comes identity.

For De Zerbi, that identity starts in the middle of the pitch.

De Zerbi’s midfield cornerstone

One of Tottenham’s main priorities is upgrading the technical level of the side and installing a central midfielder who can dictate tempo, build attacks and live comfortably under pressure. Tonali fits that profile almost perfectly.

The Italy international has been identified by De Zerbi as the ideal fulcrum for his style of football – a controller who can take the ball in tight spaces, change the rhythm and connect defence to attack. Inside the club, the push for Tonali is being seen as a statement move: a sign that Spurs intend to back their new head coach and spend heavily to give him the tools he demands.

De Zerbi is expected to have a major say in recruitment this summer. A successful move for Tonali would underline that this is his project now, not just a light touch on someone else’s squad.

Newcastle’s hard line

There is, however, a major obstacle. Newcastle do not want to sell.

Tonali is tied to the club until 2029 on a contract signed in 2024 while he was serving a 10‑month gambling ban. That deal contains no release clause, leaving Newcastle in a powerful position at the negotiating table. Any club that wants him will have to pay a huge fee, and Newcastle will only even consider a sale on those terms.

Even so, the market knows Tonali may be open to a fresh start. As reported in April, there was a broad understanding that he, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento could all look for new challenges this summer. Gordon has already made his move, joining Barcelona in a £69m deal. Tonali could be the next big name to test Newcastle’s resolve.

He remains one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders and has long been admired by Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United. For now, though, those heavyweights are looking elsewhere.

City are deep in talks with Nottingham Forest over Elliot Anderson in a deal expected to climb beyond £100m, a price that underlines how inflated the midfield market has become. United, meanwhile, have agreed a deal with Atalanta for Ederson and are now chasing West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. Their shifting priorities leave a clearer path for Spurs, but not a cheaper one.

If City do complete the Anderson move at those numbers, it will only harden Newcastle’s stance and push Tonali’s price even higher.

Spurs’ wider rebuild

Tottenham have not waited for the window to drift by. They have already moved quickly to reinforce the back line, bringing in centre-back Marcos Senesi and left-back Andy Robertson on free transfers. De Zerbi still wants another defender and the club are pursuing Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

Brighton, for their part, have turned their attention to one of Spurs’ own prospects. They have lodged a £30m bid for teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic. The 19‑year‑old, who shone on loan at Hamburg and is regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young defenders, is keen on the switch. Tottenham, though, are unlikely to accept the current offer and are under no pressure to cash in.

All of this sits under a broader plan: build a squad that can play De Zerbi’s football. That means a conductor in midfield – hence the Tonali push – but it also means retooling the attack.

Spurs have spent a year searching for a winger capable of taking on the burden of replacing Heung‑Min Son and have come up empty so far. Attempts to land Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo failed. Manchester City’s Savinho is one of the names on their list this summer as they keep hunting for pace, goals and one‑v‑one threat from wide areas.

De Zerbi also wants another striker, ideally one who can operate across the entire front line. With last season’s injury crisis still fresh in the memory, he wants flexibility and depth, not a single fixed‑position forward who leaves the system exposed when absences pile up.

There could be change in goal as well. Guglielmo Vicario is on Juventus’ shortlist as they weigh up a move, and Inter have previously shown interest. If Vicario does return to Italy, Spurs will have to move for another goalkeeper. Antonin Kinsky finished the season as De Zerbi’s No 1 and handled the pressure of the run‑in, but a full campaign at the top level demands competition.

A market that tests ambition

Tonali sits at the heart of all this. He represents more than just another signing; he is the type of player who defines how a team plays.

Tottenham know the price will be painful. Newcastle know they hold the cards. The midfield market is spiralling, with deals like Anderson’s reshaping expectations across the league.

Somewhere inside that turbulence, Spurs have a decision to make. Do they stretch to land De Zerbi’s chosen lynchpin now, or risk watching their ideal playmaker stay on Tyneside while they scramble for the next name on the list?