Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks with Newcastle United over a deal for Sandro Tonali, turning a summer of interest into direct negotiation. Manchester City are also in the race for the 26-year-old midfielder, and discussions over personal terms with both clubs are continuing.
The move matters now because it is the first sign that Tottenham are prepared to test Newcastle’s position with more than interest alone. Tonali made 53 appearances for Newcastle last season, scored three times and has become a central figure again since returning in August 2024, with 110 appearances, 10 goals and 10 assists already on his record for the club.
Newcastle have not shut the door. They have stayed open to a sale this summer if the right offer arrives, but they are expected to seek about £100million to let Tonali go. That figure reflects both his standing and the leverage Newcastle still hold, with his contract running to 2029 and carrying a 12-month extension option.
That stance makes the next stage more than a routine transfer conversation. Tottenham and City are both working through personal terms with Tonali’s camp, but the fee remains the harder part, especially after Newcastle paid £60.5m for him from Milan in July 2023. For Spurs, this is also the kind of deal that can reshape a window: a major outlay for a midfielder who has already played through a 10-month suspension, returned in August 2024 and still looks like one of the few players Newcastle may sell only on their terms.
Tonali’s route to this point has made him a rare commodity. Born 19 miles south of Milan in Lodi, he came through Brescia before moving to Milan in 2020 and then on permanently a year later. His Newcastle spell has been eventful, but the numbers are hard to dismiss: last season he played 53 matches as Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League and reached the last-16 of the Champions League. That is why the talks are serious now, and why any agreement will hinge on whether Tottenham are prepared to go close to Newcastle’s valuation.
For the moment, the race is still open. Tottenham have moved first at club level, City are still there, and Tonali’s camp is talking to both sides while Newcastle wait for a bid that matches their demands. If that number does not arrive, the midfielder stays at St James’ Park. If it does, one of the summer’s biggest Premier League moves could follow quickly.
