Tottenham’s summer is no longer just about volume. It is about whether Roberto De Zerbi’s influence can turn ambition into a squad that actually looks built for him.
That is why Sandro Tonali matters. Sky Sports has reported that the Newcastle United midfielder remains a priority target for De Zerbi after Spurs had an £80m bid rejected, with midfield viewed as the key area of the rebuild. Tottenham have already moved early in defence, but Tonali is the deal that would say most about the level of this reset.
The context is important. Spurs have already been linked with a wide rebuild under De Zerbi, and the club’s recent work around the defence has been framed as only the start. ReadTottenham has already covered the earlier Sandro Tonali bid rejection, but the bigger question now is whether Tottenham can keep pushing when Newcastle’s position is strong and Manchester City are also watching the situation.
Tonali is the profile De Zerbi’s midfield still lacks
Sky Sports’ latest Tottenham transfer analysis says De Zerbi wants to rebuild the midfield, add forwards and potentially bring in a goalkeeper. It also reports that Spurs could target up to seven or eight signings this summer, with Tonali identified as the kind of high-level player who would fit the Italian’s plan.
That makes sense because Tottenham’s problem is not simply a shortage of bodies. It is a shortage of control. De Zerbi’s football asks midfielders to receive under pressure, manipulate space and dictate tempo before the attack opens up. A player such as Tonali would not be a luxury signing in that structure. He would be a reference point.
Newcastle’s stance remains the obvious obstacle. Tonali is under contract until 2029, does not have a release clause, and Sky Sports has previously reported that Newcastle would only consider selling for a huge fee. That gives the selling club leverage and leaves Tottenham needing either persistence, a serious financial package or a shift in the player’s side of the equation.
De Zerbi’s pull is becoming part of Tottenham’s pitch
The most interesting detail in Sky’s reporting is not only that Tottenham want Tonali. It is that De Zerbi is being described as unusually hands-on in recruitment, with his pull already framed as a factor in Spurs’ business.
Jan Paul van Hecke’s move has been held up as an example of that. The defender worked with De Zerbi at Brighton, and Sky reports that he only wanted Spurs. That matters because Tottenham are trying to sell a project from a difficult recent position. They are not offering European football, and they are rebuilding after a season of pressure, injuries and underperformance.
In that context, the manager’s credibility has to do more of the heavy lifting. The earlier Roberto De Zerbi transfer plan already made clear the scale of change being discussed. Tonali would take the conversation from numbers to status.
Spurs need one statement deal to change the tone
Tottenham can make smart additions around the edges and still leave supporters wondering whether the ceiling has really changed. Tonali would be different because he would address the most important area of the pitch while proving Spurs can beat serious competition to an elite target.
City’s interest complicates that picture. Sky Sports reported that City have considered Tonali while continuing their pursuit of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, creating the possibility of a wider midfield market squeeze. If Tottenham wait too long, the price and the pressure may only rise.
That is why this is the real test of De Zerbi’s rebuild. Defensive signings can stabilise Spurs. A midfielder of Tonali’s profile could transform how they play. The deal remains difficult, but if Tottenham are serious about giving De Zerbi a squad that reflects his football, this is exactly the kind of battle they have to stay in, according to Sky Sports’ latest update.
