Arsenal Circle Tottenham Youngster Upson as Spurs Eye Tonali Revenge Deal

The north London neighbours are locked in a summer transfer tussle, with Arsenal eyeing a move for Tottenham's academy prospect Elijah Upson while Spurs prepare to muscle in on Arsenal's pursuit of Sandro Tonali.

Upson, the 18-year-old son of former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson, will depart Tottenham when his scholarship agreement expires on June 30, 2026. Despite being offered a professional contract by the Lilywhites, the centre-back has opted to move on from the club.

The teenager has spent the last two seasons featuring in Tottenham's Under-18 setup, featuring across Premier League 2, the U18 Premier League, UEFA Youth League, the FA Youth Cup, and EFL Trophy competition.

Arsenal, fresh from claiming the Premier League title under Mikel Arteta last season, have now identified Upson as a target for the summer window. The Gunners are keen to capitalise on the defender's availability despite the fierce rivalry between the two sides.

Whilst the Spurs academy looks set to lose Upson, Roberto De Zerbi's outfit could land a significant blow against their north London rivals by securing Tonali's signature from Newcastle. The Italian midfielder has been on Arsenal's radar since January, when they received the opportunity to pursue the deal.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham have entered the race with serious intent. Crucially, Tonali himself is open to the prospect of joining Spurs and working under De Zerbi, regardless of their recent struggles on the pitch.

"Tottenham have entered the race very strong, very concrete, very determined to sign Sandro Tonali," Romano explained on his YouTube channel. "And if Tottenham got this strong, my understanding is that it's because Sandro Tonali is keen on a move to Tottenham."

The midfielder is reportedly prepared to make the switch even without European football available, attracted by De Zerbi's project and the opportunity to help drive the club forward. Romano suggested the deal could command a package worth approximately €100million, or around £85million.

Whilst Arsenal and Manchester City have maintained contact with Newcastle over recent weeks, Spurs are now going all-in for Tonali as De Zerbi looks to reinforce his squad and demonstrate the club's ambition moving forward.