Spurs Complete Fernandes Signing, Now Set Sights on Newcastle's Tonali

Tottenham's summer spending spree shows no signs of slowing down. Having already secured four arrivals—Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton and free agents Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka—the north London outfit have now completed their business for Matheus Fernandes at West Ham.

The £85m transfer has been finalised with Fernandes heading for his medical to rubber-stamp the move. De Zerbi's side have moved decisively to land the midfielder ahead of Manchester United's interest, with the deal structured as a straightforward guarantee with no add-ons or sell-on clauses complicating matters.

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, the payment terms were crucial to negotiations. West Ham sought a clean financial guarantee rather than a complicated payment structure, and Tottenham delivered exactly that.

"Tottenham arrived with an £85 million guaranteed fixed fee, no add-ons, no future-sell-on clauses. West Ham got the guarantee they wanted," Romano explained. "Now the price has been reached in full: £85 million, for a player strongly wanted by Roberto De Zerbi."

However, the Fernandes deal is merely part of a broader midfield reconstruction project at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The club remains actively engaged with Newcastle United over a move for Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali, with negotiations ongoing despite the Magpies having already knocked back an opening offer worth approximately £80m.

Spurs are understood to be optimistic about landing Tonali, with De Zerbi's presence a significant draw for the player. The plan is to bring in both midfielders this summer, signalling serious intent to strengthen the engine room.

Yet Tottenham face competition for Tonali's signature. Manchester City are also tracking the Newcastle star, with City keen on securing a second midfielder following their pursuit of Elliot Anderson. Arsenal have likewise registered their interest.

The ambitious midfield refresh comes after De Zerbi's side narrowly avoided the drop on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign, making summer recruitment all the more critical. Among the Big Six, few clubs have matched Tottenham's activity in the transfer window so far.