Tottenham are on the brink of sealing one of the biggest signings in club history, with Sandro Tonali reportedly undergoing a medical ahead of a stunning £100million move from Newcastle. The Italy international looks set to become Spurs’ record signing, a clear statement of De Zerbi’s ambition to turn his squad into genuine title contenders.
THE CENTREPIECE OF THE REBUILD
While Mateus Fernandes arrives as one of Europe’s brightest young midfield prospects, Tonali brings proven top-level quality. At 26 and entering his prime, the Italian is expected to become the heartbeat of De Zerbi’s new-look side.
For Newcastle, it’s a huge profit — despite fluctuating form last season, the Magpies stand to almost double what they paid AC Milan for him just three years ago.
THE DE ZERBI CONNECTION
Spurs believe De Zerbi can bring out Tonali’s best. The pair share roots in Brescia, and Tonali has previously credited the Spurs boss with playing a key role in convincing him to make the move, both through personal trust and footballing vision. The two know each other well from their Serie A days, when Tonali regularly faced De Zerbi’s Sassuolo sides.
A MIDFIELD MISSING PIECE
Tottenham lacked a genuine tempo-setter last season — a midfielder who can dictate play while linking defence to attack. Tonali fits that mould perfectly, blending composure with progressive, line-breaking passing that consistently pushes opponents back. His numbers back this up, with far higher output in attacking-third passes and line-breaking balls than Tottenham’s current options — exactly the brave, forward-thinking style De Zerbi demands.
ELITE ATHLETICISM
Beyond his technical quality, Tonali brings rare physical attributes. Jamie Carragher has repeatedly hailed his blend of speed, strength and stamina as among the Premier League’s best. The stats back it up — Tonali hit a top speed of 36.06 km/h last season, making him not just the league’s fastest central midfielder but even quicker than Spurs’ own Micky van de Ven.
Eddie Howe has praised Tonali’s anticipation and ability to read danger before it develops, while his relentless recovery running made him a key figure in shutting down Newcastle’s opponents. He also topped Newcastle’s charts for recovery runs last season — elite defensive workrate to match his attacking quality.
BUILT TO LAST
Durability is another huge plus. Tonali missed very few Serie A games across his final two AC Milan seasons, and since returning from his betting ban, he’s featured in nearly 80% of Newcastle’s league minutes.
Luciano Spalletti has long praised his all-around game, while Howe has compared elements of his style to Andrea Pirlo — though with an athletic edge few midfielders in the world can match.
For Tottenham, this £100million deal isn’t just about adding talent — it’s about landing the complete midfielder De Zerbi wants to build his new era around. 👀
