Tottenham prepare £100m bid to lure Sandro Tonali from Newcastle despite no European football

Tottenham Hotspur are preparing a bid of around £85m, rising to £100m with add-ons, for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, with manager Roberto De Zerbi identified as the key force behind the move, according to transfer expert Ben Jacobs.

Tonali, 26, has established himself as one of the standout players in Eddie Howe’s side since joining Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in 2023, making 60 appearances for club and country across the 2025/26 season. Should he leave St James’ Park this summer, the Magpies would recoup close to double their original outlay.

Despite Tottenham being unable to offer European football next season following back-to-back 17th-place finishes, Jacobs reports that Spurs are considered a ‘serious contender’ for Tonali, with the midfielder reportedly open to the switch. The club’s board are said to have funds available and are eager to make a marquee signing as they look to rebuild under De Zerbi.

Transfer expert David Ornstein adds that Spurs have held positive talks with Tonali’s representatives, though they are yet to open formal negotiations with Newcastle directly.

Arsenal and Manchester City are also in contention for the Italy international, while Manchester United’s interest has cooled due to the scale of the fee involved.

De Zerbi arrived at Spurs in March after a turbulent season that left the club fighting relegation. The former Brighton head coach took 11 points from his final seven games in charge to secure survival on the final day of the campaign and has wasted little time reshaping the squad.

Tonali’s potential departure would be Newcastle’s second major sale of the summer, following Anthony Gordon’s £69m move to Barcelona. For Spurs, it would represent their most significant incoming transfer of the window, following the arrivals of Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke in a reported £52m deal, along with free transfers Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, who joined after leaving Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively.