Tottenham's £85m Fernandes deal hands Man City pole position in £100m Tonali race

Manchester City are increasingly well-placed to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali after Tottenham Hotspur agreed an £85m deal to sign West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, a move that appears to have ended Spurs’ pursuit of the Italy international.

Newcastle value Tonali at £100m, a figure that had attracted interest from both City and Tottenham. With Spurs now committing heavily to Fernandes — and having already spent more than £50m on Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke — Roberto De Zerbi’s side are expected to shelve any plans to pursue the 26-year-old further.

City’s midfield has been reshaped significantly this summer. Bernardo Silva has departed, while Rodri is reportedly facing surgery on an unspecified injury, leaving the long-term future of the Spain international uncertain. Nico González could also be sold before the window closes.

The club have already agreed a club-record £116m deal for Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson, with that transfer expected to be confirmed in the coming days. Tonali would represent a further substantial outlay, but City are understood to be monitoring the situation closely.

Despite their apparent advantage, City will not be pressured into overpaying. The club are prepared to walk away from the deal if they do not believe the fee represents fair value, meaning Newcastle’s £100m valuation could yet prove a sticking point.