Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Newcastle United over Sandro Tonali, taking the pursuit from quiet contact with the player’s camp to direct club-to-club discussions. The move puts Spurs in a live race with Manchester City for the 26-year-old midfielder if he leaves St James’ Park.
The interest is being driven now because Tonali has become a costly problem to solve. Newcastle want about £100million before they even consider selling, a figure that reflects both his importance and the price of replacing him in the same market.
Tonali’s latest numbers explain why there is so much attention. He made 53 appearances for Newcastle last season and scored three times, helping a side that finished 12th in the Premier League while also reaching the last-16 of the Champions League. Since his return in August 2024, he has made 110 appearances and produced 10 goals and 10 assists, a workload that has kept him central to the team despite the wider uncertainty around his future.
The timing also marks a shift from where this stood only days ago. On June 16, it was reported that Tottenham were in positive talks with Tonali’s camp but had not yet engaged Newcastle. That gap has now closed. Spurs have gone to the next stage, but they are still not the only club in the conversation, and Tonali’s representatives continue to speak with both suitors.
Newcastle, for their part, have not shut the door. They are open to a sale this summer if a bid meets their demands, but the number being discussed is steep enough to test even an ambitious chase. Tonali is under contract until 2029 and Newcastle also hold a 12-month extension option, which gives them leverage and leaves the buyer facing a long and expensive negotiation.
Spurs will hope a high salary offer, Roberto De Zerbi pushing for the move and the pull of London can shift the balance their way. Tonali has already been through a difficult spell in English football: he moved to St James’ Park from Milan in July 2023 for about £60.5m, then received an immediate 10-month suspension in October 2023 after being found guilty of breaching gambling rules by the Italian Football Federation. He missed the rest of the season and Italy’s 2024 European Championship campaign before returning in August 2024.
The question now is not whether Tottenham have shown their hand. They have. The next test is whether they will turn those talks into a formal bid that Newcastle will even entertain, or whether the price tag leaves Tonali exactly where he is.
