Tottenham's £185m Midfield Revolution: Tonali and Fernandes Targeted
Tottenham’s summer rebuild is gathering speed – and now it is aimed straight at the heart of Roberto De Zerbi’s team.
Four major signings are already through the door. Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka will all report for pre-season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, giving De Zerbi fresh options in defence and in goal before a ball has even been kicked.
The next phase is far more ambitious. It is also far more expensive.
Tonali pursuit stays alive
Sandro Tonali sits at the centre of it. Newcastle United have already turned away one enormous offer – an £80m bid rejected, as reported by Sky Sports on June 20 – and have made it clear they want at least £100m for the Italy international, according to TEAMtalk.
That has not scared Tottenham off.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano insists the London club remain locked in on the former AC Milan midfielder and are actively working on a deal. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano doubled down on his original line: Tonali to Tottenham is still very much in play, and he is not entertaining talk of rival suitors.
He described it simply as “deal one”: Tottenham and Tonali. No Manchester City, no other giants in the frame in his latest updates. Just Spurs, pushing, and Newcastle holding firm on price while the saga drags on.
If Spurs are to land him, they know the scale of the outlay. Newcastle’s stance is clear. The fee will have to be nine figures.
Fernandes chase sparks Premier League tug-of-war
Tonali is only half of the plan.
Tottenham are also driving hard for Mateus Fernandes, the West Ham midfielder who has become one of this window’s most intriguing storylines. West Ham’s position has been consistent in Romano’s reporting: £85m or he stays.
That figure has not cooled interest. Far from it.
Tottenham want Fernandes and Tonali together, not as alternatives. The idea is a double move that would reshape De Zerbi’s midfield in a single window and take the total spend on the pair to around £185m if both clubs get their asking prices.
They are not alone in the chase for Fernandes. Manchester United, already busy after bringing in Ederson from Atalanta, are also in the race and are talking to the Portugal international’s camp.
West Ham, Romano says, will simply accept the best offer on the table. One euro more could decide it. Once that happens, the choice passes to the player.
Behind the scenes, Tottenham and United are both working, both selling their projects, both trying to move quickly. Spurs are “pushing to close,” according to Romano, but United remain firmly in the conversation. It is a straight fight between two heavyweights, and it is running right through the middle of the Premier League.
A defining moment in Spurs’ project
If Tottenham pull this off, De Zerbi walks into next season with a radically upgraded core: Robertson’s experience on the flank, new depth at centre-back, competition in goal – and, potentially, a £185m midfield axis built around Tonali and Fernandes.
If they fall short, those same players could be lining up against them in the league.
The money is on the table. The talks are live. Now the window will show whether Tottenham are ready to turn intent into era-defining signings, or watch a statement summer slip into someone else’s hands.
