From Benjamin Sesko to Viktor Gyokeres, it was a summer of strikers last year. Now, with Tottenham Hotspur firmly in the mix, it’s all about the engine room.
The post-Pep Guardiola era has begun at Manchester City with the signing of Elliot Anderson, the 23-year-old who is set to move to the Etihad for a fee of up to £130m.
That number will no doubt increase the market for the pitch, and it remains to be seen what impact that will have on Spurs’ pursuit of Sandro Tonali.
|
Spurs midfielders – 25/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
The player |
Games |
Terms (Help) |
|
Palhinha |
45 |
7 (3) |
|
Simmons |
41 |
5 (6) |
|
Sarr |
37 |
2 (4) |
|
Gray |
35 |
2 (3) |
|
Bentancur |
34 |
1 (1) |
|
Bergvall |
33 |
1 (5) |
|
Gallagher |
18 |
1 (1) |
|
Bissouma |
11 |
0 (0) |
|
Maddison |
3 |
0 (0) |
|
Sister |
2 |
0 (0) |
The Lilywhites have already had one bid rejected for the Italian, believed to be in the region of £75m, although all signs point to the 26-year-old heading to north London before the window closes.
He could be joined by his new midfield partner at N17, too.
Spurs are hoping to complete the deal quickly and Tonali’s interest
The suggestion is that Tonali is willing to meet Roberto De Zerbi, on personal terms that may already be in place even if club-to-club talks are still ongoing.
The Newcastle man’s signing will continue the summer trend for Spurs, with ENIC putting forward the most Premier League-proven additions to date.
Indeed, former Burnley and Newcastle player Martin Dubravka is now De Zerbi’s fourth player, following previous deals for Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Tonali could be next in the door, although there is also a rush to secure a deal for West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, with Fabrizio Romano offering the latest in what is hotly contested.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Spurs hope to close the deal with the Portuguese “quickly” as they look to beat Manchester United to sign him.
“Tottenham is pushing to get Mateus Fernandes. Tottenham is pushing and pushing because they want to be quick and they want to be the first for Mateus Fernandes. I told you in a different story with Tonali.
“But Manchester United are still in contact with the player’s agent, [Jorge] Mendes. Manchester United are yet to quit, so the story is still open. West Ham are waiting. West Ham feel they are in a better place.
“Who offers more? They are ready to sell the player. So now it’s up to teams like Man United and Tottenham to contact the player’s agent”.
Why Spurs’ signing would be good for Tonali
With Arsenal believed to be on the shortlist for Bruno Guimaraes, both Newcastle midfielders could leave this summer.
The Brazilian and Tonali have formed such an effective combination under Eddie Howe’s watch, combining well as an almost archaic centre-back duo, with neither man restricted to being a number eight or a number six.
Alongside Joelinton again, the trio is arguably “one of the best midfielders in the league”, in Guimaraes’s own opinion, a trio of powerful, all-round midfielders who can dominate any midfielder at their best.
Should Tonali move to the capital, he will need to find a new partner in the style of Guimaraes to jump on, something Fernandes could provide next season.
Like the Newcastle pair, the Portuguese star is not a midfielder to be pigeonholed, so he is capable as a deep-lying number eight, a more advanced box-to-box option or as a number ten.
He was a real shining light for the Hammers last season, scoring and assisting seven goals in the Premier League, while particularly impressing with his work from outside.
That’s where the former Southampton man would prove such a perfect partner for Tonali, that is his ability to cover the ground and ease the defensive burden on the man next to him.
In 2025/26, for example, Fernandes averaged 3.9 tackles and interceptions per game, while also recovering 5.1 balls per game.
That record is well matched by Guimaraes’ record at St James’ Park, a South American who averages 2.6 and 4.7 in those two metrics, respectively.
When the pair match how they combine, they boast an accuracy rate of 87% and 86% for West Ham and Newcastle, respectively.
That resemblance to Guimaraes should ensure that Fernandes can quickly form a fruitful partnership alongside Tonali at Spurs, with the Lilywhites crying out for a fresh injection of energy and quality in that midfield unit.
Tonali, even if he adds De Zerbi’s summer statement, he will not be able to carry the burden alone, but thankfully, if Fernandes will join the team, he will not have to.
Exciting times are ahead in north London…
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