Spurs are not over the line just yet with Sandro Tonali now attracting big interest from Manchester City as new boss Enzo Maresca looks to make his mark at the Etihad
Sandro Tonali waves
Spurs are making moves for Sandro Tonali(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester City have joined the battle to sign Sandro Tonali with Enzo Maresca eager to hit the ground running as new boss.
The FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners have retained an interest in the Toon midfielder, with sources close to Tonali's management team describing Man City as genuine candidates to lure him from Tyneside. Spurs had an £80million bid rejected by Newcastle this month with the Magpies wanting a fee closer to £100m for his services.
Tonali has agreed a wage structure in principle with Spurs of £275,000 per week and a lucrative six-year deal, which will also see his agency GR Sports pick up a 10% cut of the fee - which Man City could easily match. City are in the market to replace Portugal star Bernardo Silva and want cover for Spain ace Rodri, with Tonali a target during the Pep Guardiola era too.
Man City have just splashed out £116m for Geordie boy Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest but have the capacity to make another major swoop and sign Tonali.
The ex-AC Milan star was offered to Arsenal but the Gunners were put off by his wage demands and the eye watering agent fees that came with the deal. For now, Arsenal have turned their attention to Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazil star, who jetted off for the World Cup without signing a new deal.
Spurs will still feel they are in the driving seat when it comes to Tonali, but the lure of a hungry Man City outfit keen to retain their title from Arsenal will be a huge temptation for the Italy star.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi is believed to have a close relationship with Giuseppe Riso and his agent has never shied away from suggesting he could quit Newcastle.
Speaking in March, Riso asked on a possible exit from Tyneside to potentially Arsenal or Manchester City, Riso said: “Exactly, that was the goal from the moment he went to England – to try to make him a star player. I think he’s the Italian footballer with one of the highest values in the world.
"The deal came about because a club like Newcastle, with unlimited financial resources, had decided to invest in Sandro. We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league."
When asked if Newcastle would sell Tonali this summer, CEO David Hopkinson said three months ago: "We think through what players might or might not want to do this summer.
"But if an Isak-like scenario presents itself again, any player under contract is going to leave on our terms and we’re going to maximise the opportunity that might represent for the club."
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