Any lingering doubts about Tottenham Hotspur’s ambition should be buried by now. After back-to-back 17th-place finishes, Spurs have hit the ground running this summer — proving they can still pull in top-level talent when it matters.
They’ve been the Premier League’s most active club so far, wrapping up three deals: the £52m arrival of Jan Paul van Hecke, plus the free transfer double of Marcos Senesi and experienced left-back Andy Robertson.
And it might not stop there. A marquee midfielder could be heading to N17 next — a signing that would send an unmistakable message about where this club is going.
Spurs Chase Two Premier League Midfield Gems
Had Tottenham been relegated, they’d be shopping in the Championship right now. Instead, they’re targeting two of the division’s most coveted midfielders.
First up is West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes. Spurs have already made an approach and are pushing hard on the player’s side — but the Portuguese star currently prefers a move to Manchester United, making that one a tough nut to crack. At up to £85m, he won’t come cheap either.
The more promising pursuit is Sandro Tonali. Spurs submitted an opening bid of £75m to Newcastle last week — knocked back, but talks are continuing. Crucially, Tonali is keen on the move and has already agreed personal terms, putting him well ahead of Fernandes in the pecking order.
According to Newcastle Chronicle chief correspondent Lee Ryder, Tottenham are currently leading the race despite interest from Arsenal and Manchester City. City have their eyes on Elliot Anderson as a priority, though they do rate Tonali — which is why Spurs are looking to get a deal over the line quickly before anyone can swoop in. Ryder adds that personal terms are done, with Tonali set to pocket £275k per week in north London.
The Next Maddison? Why Tonali Would Be a Game-Changer
James Maddison endured a season to forget in 2025/26, torn apart by a pre-season ACL rupture that restricted him to just 34 minutes across three appearances. Now fully fit, he’s expected to be central to De Zerbi’s plans — and at his peak, he’s one of the Premier League’s most gifted playmakers, having racked up 12 goals and 10 assists in 2024/25.
Tonali’s path has been equally stop-start, but like Maddison, he has delivered consistently at the highest level — for club and country, in Europe and in England. At 26, he’s hitting his prime and would arrive battle-hardened from Premier League football.
His agent Beppe Riso has called him “one of the best midfielders in the world,” and the stats back that up. A natural number six, Tonali would plug a glaring gap in Spurs’ midfield — their inability to progress the ball and play through the lines was a real weakness last season. In 2025/26, he averaged 6.12 progressive carries per 90 minutes, a number no Tottenham midfielder came close to matching.
While Maddison and Tonali operate differently, both share a deep understanding of English football — a thread running through all of Spurs’ summer business, with Van Hecke, Robertson, and Senesi all arriving from Premier League clubs.
