Tottenham Hotspur could be set to make one of the biggest moves of the summer, with Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali reportedly open to a big Tottenham move and joining Roberto De Zerbi’s side, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Romano reports that the Italian international has emerged as one of De Zerbi’s priority midfield targets as Spurs continue their rebuild following successive 17th-placed Premier League finishes.
Tottenham are not alone in their interest, however, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all reportedly monitoring the situation.
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Spurs Transfer Pursuit of Sandro Tonali: Star Keen on Big Tottenham Move
Tonali Open to Big Tottenham Move
Tottenham are preparing an ambitious move for Tonali, with David Ornstein reporting that agreeing a fee with Newcastle is likely to prove a bigger obstacle than convincing the player to make the switch.
The 26-year-old has three years remaining on his current Newcastle contract, with the club also holding the option to extend the deal by a further year. He joined the Magpies from Italian giants AC Milan in 2023 for £55 million.
Ornstein also reports that there has been no club-to-club contact between Tottenham and Newcastle at this stage. However, Spurs are understood to view Tonali as a statement signing, with De Zerbi personally keen to strengthen his midfield ahead of the new campaign.
Tonali’s Career to Date
Tonali came through the academy at Brescia before completing a move to AC Milan in 2020, where he developed into one of Europe’s most highly regarded midfielders.
The Italian made 130 appearances for the Rossoneri before joining Newcastle in the summer of 2023.
Despite serving a 10-month suspension for breaches of the FA’s betting regulations between October 2023 and August 2024, Tonali quickly established himself as a fan favourite on Tyneside. Since returning, he has helped Newcastle win the Carabao Cup and compete in the UEFA Champions League.
The midfielder has now made 110 appearances for Newcastle, scoring ten goals. During the 2025/26 campaign, he featured 53 times across all competitions, contributing ten goal involvements while operating primarily as a defensive midfielder.
Could a big Tottenham move be next for the Italian?
Internationally, Tonali has earned 32 caps for Italy and is a regular within the national team setup.
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Interest From Elsewhere
Tottenham face significant competition for Tonali’s signature, as Romano has previously reported that Manchester City are monitoring the midfielder should they fail to complete a move for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.
Arsenal are also believed to retain an interest, while Manchester United have long admired the Italian, although neither club is currently considered as advanced as Spurs in their pursuit.
Romano has also stated that Tonali would prefer to remain in England, making a Premier League move the most likely outcome should he leave Newcastle this summer.
Tottenham’s Midfield Needs
Midfield has remained a priority area for Tottenham in recent transfer windows, with the arrivals of Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, João Palhinha and Conor Gallagher since 2024 all aimed at strengthening the centre of the pitch.
Spurs have already confirmed the departure of Yves Bissouma this summer, while Palhinha’s loan from Bayern Munich has expired, with no decision yet made over a permanent transfer.
That leaves Tottenham looking for further reinforcement in midfield, with Romano reporting that De Zerbi views Tonali as one of his priority targets to lead the club’s rebuild.
Should Spurs succeed in convincing Newcastle to sell, the signing would represent a big statement of intent from the ownership and significantly strengthen a midfield that has undergone major change in recent seasons.
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