Tottenham are ready to push again for the Newcastle midfielder, but Arsenal’s interest could change the shape of the race.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park on September 28, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Sandro Tonali is open to joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer, but Arsenal are understood to be his preference if the Premier League champions firm up their interest in the Newcastle United midfielder.
Tottenham are expected to return with an improved offer after seeing an opening bid rejected, with Spurs ready to push hard for a deal and currently regarded as the most advanced club in the race.
The potential fee remains the obvious complication, with Newcastle under no immediate pressure to sell a player who is under contract at St James’ Park until 2029, with an option for a further year.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan three years ago in a £55m deal and has since become one of their key players. Despite Newcastle’s financial difficulties, which forced them to sell Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, the club are still likely to demand a substantial fee for the Italy midfielder.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Eddie Nketiah of Crystal Palace runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Newcastle United FC at Selhurst Park on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
Reports differ slightly on the size of Tottenham’s rejected opening bid, with one figure put at £75m and another in the region of £80m, but the direction of travel is clear.
Spurs are preparing to try again, and Roberto De Zerbi is central to their push.
Arsenal’s position is more complicated. James McNicholas has reported for The Athletic that Mikel Arteta remains a fan of Tonali, though the length of the midfielder’s contract means any deal may prove prohibitively expensive.
David Ornstein has also confirmed interest from Arsenal and Manchester City, adding that Andrea Berta contacted the player’s agent in the January transfer window.
Newcastle were unwilling to do business then, while the asking price was beyond Arsenal’s budget at that stage, anyway. The price does not appear to have come down, although Newcastle now seem open to a deal if a club meets their valuation.
Krystian Bielik (R) of Poland competes for the ball with Sandro Tonali (L) of Italy during the 2019 UEFA U-21 Group A match between Italy and Poland at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on June 19, 2019
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
That leaves Arsenal with a decision to make. Tonali’s preference, if Arsenal firm up their interest, gives the champions an obvious advantage over Tottenham, particularly with Champions League football.
Spurs, by contrast, may need to be more aggressive. Back-to-back 17th-place finishes have left them in a very different market position. If Newcastle’s valuation proves too high for Arsenal and City, Tottenham’s best/only chance may be to overpay where their rivals will not. The price of desperation.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are already following up their their long-standing interest in Kees Smit as they prepare for Tonali’s possible departure. The Netherlands midfielder, rated at £60m by AZ Alkmaar, is also attracting strong competition, which underlines the scale of the moving parts around all deals this summer.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United is fouled by Jurrien Timber of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Arsenal FC at St James' Park on November 02, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
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