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Tonali deal nears completion
Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a club-record £100m deal to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United, with the north London club set to pay £92.5m plus £7.5m in performance-related add-ons.
“Spurs are set to pay £92.5m plus £7.5m in achievable add-ons for the 26-year-old.”
Sky Sports said the 26-year-old is expected to earn more than £275,000 per week at Spurs and that he was keen to work under Tottenham boss and fellow Italian Roberto De Zerbi despite interest from elsewhere, including Manchester City.
The Guardian framed the agreement as an initial £92.5m deal that could rise to £100m if Tottenham achieve serial Champions League qualifications, and said the transfer would represent a club record for Spurs if formalities proceed.
The New York Times put the potential value at £100million ($133m) and said Tottenham reached an agreement to sign Tonali from Newcastle in a deal that could reach £100million.
In the same reporting, The New York Times said Tottenham will pay an initial £92.5m for Tonali with an additional £7.5m in proposed add-ons based on multiple Champions League qualifications.
Why De Zerbi wants him
The Guardian reported that Roberto De Zerbi is believed to have told Tonali he intends rebuilding his side around him, and it said Tonali is understood to be enthused by both De Zerbi’s vision and the chance to live in London.
Sky Sports said Tonali was keen to work under Tottenham boss and fellow Italian Roberto De Zerbi despite interest from elsewhere, including Manchester City.
The New York Times described Tonali as among the very best central midfielders in the Premier League and said Tottenham beating competitors, including Manchester City, to sign him at a club-record fee was a “strong signal of intent.”
The Guardian also said Tonali has agreed terms with Spurs and is understood to have secured a significant wage rise to at least £275,000 a week across a six year contract.
In the same package of details, The New York Times said Tonali and Fernandes will join a deep Tottenham midfield that currently includes Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.
Newcastle’s rebuild after sale
The Guardian said Newcastle sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in May and lost Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, and it described the team built by Eddie Howe after his arrival in November 2021 as breaking up as Tonali’s departure adds to high-profile exits.
“Newcastle sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona in May and lost Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer”
Sky Sports said Newcastle signed Tonali from AC Milan in the summer of 2023 in a £55m deal but are now set to make a £45m profit on him, and it said the feeling is they are very likely to achieve the full £100m.
The Telegraph reported that Newcastle have agreed a £100m deal to sell Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur and said Manchester City had also expressed interest, but Tottenham did all the running and Roberto De Zerbi’s influence persuaded the Italy international to move to London.
The Telegraph added that Newcastle will step up attempts to sign Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi as his replacement and said Newcastle have already sold £175m worth of talent this summer, including the departure of Gordon to Barcelona last month.
In parallel, The Guardian said Newcastle are likely to accelerate a long-running attempt to acquire the 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg and are seeking a winger to fill the space vacated by Gordon.
