Sandro Tonali is now being linked with a £100m move from Newcastle to Tottenham, and the report has moved from idle chatter to a live transfer race. Fabrizio Romano said the midfielder wants Tottenham and that Manchester City have also held talks with him and his camp, leaving Spurs in front but not alone.
That is why the search interest is there now: this is no longer just a name being floated near a top club. Romano said there should be no problem for Tonali financially or on contract terms, which removes one of the usual barriers to a deal. He also said the link with Roberto De Zerbi is clear, pointing to Brescia and a relationship that appears to matter as much as the money.
The scale of the move is what makes it stand out. A £100m transfer would be one of the biggest in Tottenham’s recent history, and it comes as the club continues to reshape the squad under De Zerbi. Tottenham have already agreed to pay Brighton £52m for Jan Paul van Hecke, and the broader pattern shows a club trying to move fast in the market while trying to strengthen central areas of the team.
But the picture is not as clean as Spurs’ lead might suggest. The Athletic reported that Manchester City’s competition for Tonali is serious, while TEAMtalk said Spurs were initially helped by the fact that City had not really entered the race. That changed once City joined Tottenham in talks with Tonali and his camp, and the midfielder then began seriously considering the move to join the eight-time Premier League winners. In other words, Tottenham may be ahead, but the lead is being tested by a rival with equal pull and, just as importantly, a live conversation of its own.
For Tonali, the next step is not a public declaration but a decision between two clubs who have already made their interest known. If Tottenham can turn that reported preference into a deal, it would be a major statement. If Manchester City keep pressing, the race stays open and the £100m talk becomes less a headline than a price for uncertainty.
