Tottenham's Pursuit of Sandro Tonali: A Key Move in De Zerbi's Rebuild

Tottenham have drawn a bold line under their new era. They want Sandro Tonali.

The Newcastle midfielder, one of the most technically gifted players in the Premier League, has emerged as a prime target for Roberto De Zerbi as he starts to reshape Spurs in his image after dragging them away from relegation trouble last season.

This is not a speculative enquiry. Tonali sits right at the top of De Zerbi’s list.

De Zerbi’s blueprint, Tonali’s profile

Tottenham’s hierarchy have made one priority abundantly clear: raise the technical ceiling of the squad and find a central midfielder who can run games. De Zerbi wants a conductor, not just another body in the middle of the pitch. Tonali fits that brief perfectly.

The Italian coach is expected to wield significant influence over recruitment this summer. A serious move for Tonali would be a statement that Spurs are ready to back him properly, and that their promises of heavy investment are more than just boardroom rhetoric.

Tonali, still only in his mid‑20s, is under contract at Newcastle until 2029. He signed that deal in 2024 while serving a 10‑month gambling ban, and crucially, it contains no release clause. That hands Newcastle a strong hand at the negotiating table and explains why any sale would require a huge fee. They do not want to lose him.

Yet the market has started to shift. There was already a broad understanding in April that Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento might be open to a new challenge this summer. Gordon has already gone, completing a £69m move to Barcelona. Tonali could be the next high‑profile name to test Newcastle’s resolve.

A crowded race, but an opening for Spurs

Tonali has long sat on the recruitment lists of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United. On talent alone, he belongs in that company. He is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the division, capable of dictating tempo and threading passes through tight lines.

Right now, though, the landscape gives Spurs a window.

City and United have turned their attention elsewhere. City are deep in talks with Nottingham Forest over Elliot Anderson, a deal expected to sail past the £100m mark in a summer when elite midfielders are already trading at a premium. United have agreed a deal with Atalanta for Ederson and are now chasing West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.

Those choices matter. City’s push for Anderson is likely to send a ripple through the rest of the market, inflating prices and narrowing options. While their rivals focus on other targets, Tottenham see an opportunity to move decisively for Tonali before the carousel swings back around.

Rebuilding Spurs: defence first, control next

The pursuit of Tonali sits within a broader rebuild that has already started.

Tottenham moved early to secure centre-back Marcos Senesi and left-back Andy Robertson on free transfers, shoring up a defence that creaked too often last season. De Zerbi still wants another defender and Spurs are actively pursuing Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke.

Brighton, in turn, have tested Tottenham’s own resolve with a £30m offer for teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic. The 19-year-old, outstanding on loan at Hamburg and now regarded as one of Europe’s top young defenders, is keen on the move. Spurs, though, are unlikely to accept the proposal currently on the table.

All of this sits behind the central theme of the summer: building a team that can actually play De Zerbi football. That means bravery on the ball, precision under pressure and, at the heart of it, a midfielder who can dictate play. Tonali is not just a luxury; he is a key piece of the tactical puzzle.

The search out wide and up front

The midfield is not the only area under the microscope. Spurs have spent a year trying to find a winger capable of eventually taking on the mantle from Heung-Min Son and have been knocked back more than once. Moves for Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo have failed. Man City’s Savinho is among the names under consideration this summer as they keep pushing for the right profile out wide.

De Zerbi also wants another striker. Not just a penalty-box finisher, but a forward who can operate across the entire front line, giving him tactical flexibility and cover if the injury problems that ravaged last season resurface. Depth, variety, and technical quality: those are the watchwords.

There is a question in goal as well. Guglielmo Vicario could yet return to Italy, with Juventus placing him on their list as they weigh up a potential move and Inter previously showing interest. Should Vicario go, Spurs will need to move for another goalkeeper. Antonin Kinsky ended last season as De Zerbi’s No 1, but the club cannot afford to be caught short if the market shifts quickly.

A test of ambition

All roads, though, keep leading back to the same question: how far are Tottenham prepared to go for Sandro Tonali?

Newcastle hold the leverage. The contract runs to 2029, there is no release clause, and they have no desire to cash in. Any agreement would be eye‑watering.

For Spurs, that is exactly the point. De Zerbi wants a midfielder who can change the way his team plays. The market has given them a rare opening. The club have talked about ambition and evolution since the day he walked through the door.

Now they have the chance to prove it.