Tottenham see first Tonali bid rejected by Newcastle

Newcastle United v West Ham United - Premier League

Tottenham have officially opened negotiations with Newcastle over a blockbuster move for Sandro Tonali, though their opening gambit has fallen short of the Magpies' valuation. The north London club are looking to secure a marquee signing for manager Roberto De Zerbi, who has long been an admirer of the Italian international.

Spurs open Tonali talks with blockbuster bid

Tottenham have submitted a formal bid of around £75-80 million to Newcastle for Tonali as they look to steal a march on their Premier League rivals, Sky Sport in Italy reports. Spurs stepped up their efforts to sign Tonali earlier this week, sparking a fierce transfer battle with Arsenal, Manchester United, and Manchester City all hot on the heels of the Italy international.

While an approach to Tonali’s representatives had been made by Spurs to discuss a possible move to De Zerbi’s side this summer, Newcastle had not been previously approached. 

Manchester United v Newcastle United - Premier League

Newcastle hold firm on £85m valuation

Newcastle refuse to let their midfield lynchpin leave on the cheap, despite the substantial package offered by Spurs. The Athletic has stated that the club are demanding £100m for him.

The Tyneside outfit hold a commanding position at the negotiating table due to the player's long-term contractual status. Newcastle secured Tonali from AC Milan three years ago and subsequently handed him a contract extension during his 10-month gambling ban, keeping him tied to St James’ Park until 2029. Consequently, Newcastle have firmly informed Tonali’s camp that they will not sanction a sale for the 26-year-old unless their valuation is met in full.

De Zerbi's long-term admiration for the Italian

The Italian manager's tactical blueprint for his revamped Tottenham squad is the primary driving force behind this pursuit. De Zerbi, who has closely tracked Tonali since the midfielder's early breakthrough at Brescia, views his compatriot as a foundational pillar for his new project in North London.

The Italian coach previously admitted his desire to work with Tonali during his stint on the South Coast. ‘I wanted to bring Tonali to Sassuolo, if I’d stayed, after his first year at AC Milan,’ De Zerbi said during his time at Brighton. ‘I said, ‘maybe they’ll fall for it and I’ll bring him here’. I saw him at Brescia and thought he was the player he proved to be.’

Sandro Tonali Bruno Guimaraes Newcastle 2025-26

Rivals circling as transfer tension rises

Tottenham’s sudden manoeuvre has put other Premier League heavyweights on high alert as they closely monitor developments at St James' Park. Earlier this week, suspicions arose within Newcastle that Spurs’ interest was intentionally made public to provoke a counter-offer from Arsenal, who had previously attempted to secure the Italy international during the final days of the January window.

Sky Sports reports that Manchester City remain interested in Tonali.