Tottenham Muscle In On Arsenal's Pursuit of Newcastle's Tonali

Sandro Tonali's future at Newcastle appears increasingly uncertain, with Tottenham now crashing the party in what was shaping up as a two-horse race for the Italian midfielder.

Arsenal have been persistent suitors for the 26-year-old, maintaining contact for weeks and even receiving the opportunity to sign him on deadline day in January. Yet despite their advances, Tonali remained at St. James' Park. Newcastle's abysmal 2025/26 campaign has evidently done little to convince the midfielder of a long-term future on Tyneside, however.

The Gunners' ambitions are understandable. After claiming the Premier League crown and reaching the Champions League final last season under Mikel Arteta, the north London club are eyeing midfield reinforcements this summer with sporting director Andrea Berta backing fresh investment. Manchester City have also been circling, maintaining their own lines of communication with the player.

But Tottenham's intervention appears to have shifted the landscape entirely. According to transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano, Roberto De Zerbi's side have entered negotiations with genuine intent and concrete purpose. More significantly, Tonali himself appears receptive to the prospect of joining Spurs, viewing the project as sufficiently attractive even without European football on the horizon following their disappointing domestic campaign.

"Sandro Tonali is open to joining Tottenham," Romano stated. "He's ready to join Spurs, and he's attracted by the project and wants to play for Roberto De Zerbi."

The financial hurdle sits at approximately €100million—roughly £85million—according to Romano's assessment. Tonali remains contracted to Newcastle through the summer of 2028, having made 110 appearances for the club since his arrival, contributing 10 goals and 10 assists.

The Italian international won Serie A with AC Milan during the 2021/22 season before his move to the northeast. Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson recently described him as "a superstar player" when discussing the midfielder's quality.

As De Zerbi looks to galvanise Tottenham's project and demonstrate genuine ambition, Tonali represents the calibre of addition capable of shifting perceptions. Whether Arsenal and Manchester City can mount a credible counter-offensive remains to be seen, but Spurs appear to have seized the initiative in this particular battle.