Spurs are making a move to sign the £80m midfielder

Where would this Tottenham Hotspur team be if they still had Harry Kane in their ranks? Well, maybe not going back to back in 17th place.

Every Spurs fan knew it was bad news when the legendary striker left but little did they know that the club would be out of control.

Sure, the Lilywhites won the Europa League, but their form in the domestic league was unacceptable. Roberto De Zerbi rescued them from the pit and now there is a promise of greener pastures.

Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi were both lured by that offer, signing on free transfers from Liverpool and Bournemouth. Now, another batch of Premier League players could be stepping in.

With the summer transfer window open, Tottenham are trying to write off their mistakes and are doing so by signing proven Premier League talent.

It’s a strategy well-refined and well-executed by their rivals across town, with Arsenal signing the likes of Declan Rice, David Raya and Eberechi Eze from within the Premier League.

Spurs have already signed two proven players from Prem and now aim to secure another pair. Jan Paul van Hecke looks set to join the club from Brighton, although there is still work to be done on that one.

Talk has even come of an impressive move from Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali. The Toon midfielder has attracted interest from Manchester United and Arsenal this summer but Spurs are the latest club to show interest according to Fabrizio Romano.

It would be a remarkable turnaround if they could beat the big teams in England to sign the Italian, however there have been rumors of West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes joining. Coincidentally, he was a relegated player for Spurs’ last-day victory over Everton.

Fernandes may have had his downs but he has been an unusual bright light for the Irons and has attracted a lot of attention as a result. Arsenal have had talks, as have Manchester United.

However, according to reporter Ben Jacobs, Spurs have also made contact with the Hammers about the £80m-rated midfielder.

Appearing as a guest on The Last Word on Spurs podcast, Jacobs said: “They are looking at the market with different names. They are making inquiries about Mateus Fernandes although the travel guide is Manchester United or PSG. Real Madrid could go in there.”

Why Fernandes would be better than Sandro Tonali

Injuries and poor managerial appointments aside, one of the main reasons for Spurs’ woes in recent years has been their recruitment.

It’s a very well known thing. Speaking on Overlap for the 2025/26 season, Ange Postecoglou dismissed the club for not being able to attract the best players.

The Aussie said a few months ago: “We had to sign the best players in the Premier League but finishing fifth that year didn’t get us the Champions League, we didn’t have the money. So we ended up signing Dom Solanke. I really wanted him, I really like him. Then the new trio.

“I was looking for Pedro Neto, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Antoine] Semenyo at that time, Marc Guehi, because I said if we are going to go from fifth to challenge, that’s what other big clubs will do at that time.”

However, it seems that the management finally listened to that message. Robertson and Senesi are solid starters but Fernandes or Tonali will give them a quality midfielder who can take this project to the next level. Last season it felt like they were missing a star but if they can get one of these on the line, they will have one again.

Ever since he traded from Milan to Newcastle, Tonali has been making a splash in English football. He is incredibly good at handling the ball, he can improve and play well and win. He doesn’t come up big in the final third but on the flanks he’s a very well-rounded package.

That said, Fernandes could be even better. His potential is huge and at a lower price – Fernandes is worth £80m compared to Tonali’s £100m – they could strike gold here.

Already a “master” in the words of writer Joost van der Leij, when compared to similar U21 players in all seven of Europe’s top leagues, the 21-year-old ranked first for possessions won, defensive duels won and interceptions. He also ranked second in passing yards. Tonali was a wonder kid at Milan but he didn’t put in the kind of gladitorial displays we see from West Ham’s Portuguese sensation at the same time.

Fernandes is amazing at recovering the ball and winning duels but his main job is to move the ball forward as quickly as possible. He is one of the most successful football promoters on the continent.

While Tonali may win out on quite a few metrics the difference between the two is incredibly small right now. Consider that the West Ham man is five years younger and it is believed that he could be even better than the Newcastle midfielder once he reaches the top.

Some metrics prove it. Indeed, according to the data, the top two ‘bottom eaters’ in the Premier League in 2025/26 were Rice and Fernandes. No other quarterback has a higher average carry distance per carry per carry.

He can withstand pressure, handle the ball well and can carry the ball long distances. What don’t you like?

Already up there with Rice in one metric, it is believed that in a few years, he will be one of the best midfielders in the world.

Of course, he is yet to show it in the Champions League or on the international stage like Tonali but he is a top talent in the making, if he isn’t. The sad thing is that instead of that, it looks like he might join one of the big European teams. A wealthy Italian may have to do instead.