Newcastle United have turned down an offer from Tottenham Hotspur for midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Reports indicate that Newcastle rejected a bid of approximately £80 million earlier this week.
According to BBC Sport, Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi has been a longtime admirer of Tonali, and the club was considering the financial implications of a move for the 26-year-old Italian.
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However, Newcastle’s firm stance means they are likely to demand a fee closer to £100 million, with clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal keeping an eye on the situation.
Newcastle has already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, but club chief executive David Hopkinson has emphasized that they will only allow player exits on “our terms.”
Tonali is under contract until 2030 after signing a new deal during his 10-month betting ban, demonstrating his commitment to the club.
The current market conditions may also play to Newcastle’s advantage, especially if a bidding war develops due to rising midfielder valuations.
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Meanwhile, Manchester City had a second offer of around £120 million rejected by Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson, while relegated West Ham reportedly expect up to £80 million for Mateus Fernandes.
Insight on Spurs’ Strategy Shift While Newcastle Remains Steadfast
While celebrations erupted at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following their survival in the league, there was a collective understanding that the club must avoid such precarious situations in the future.
Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham stated in an interview with BBC Sport back in May that “change is happening,” and a definite shift in strategy has been noticed.
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Tottenham has already invested £52 million to acquire defender Jan Paul van Hecke, which reflects a change in spending habits that would have seemed unthinkable previously, especially considering he had just one year left on his contract at Brighton.
They’ve also leveraged their revenue by revamping their wage structure and have signed Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers even before the transfer window officially opened.
Although Spurs’ initial bid for Tonali was unsuccessful, it indicates a new approach for a club that previously had not spent more than the £65 million deal for Dominic Solanke.
The swift rejection of this bid by Newcastle serves as a clear message.
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Following Newcastle’s recent loss to Liverpool in the pursuit of Spain winger Victor Munoz, it would have been a significant setback if Spurs had succeeded with their initial bid for Tonali.
It’s evident that Newcastle will require a far more enticing offer to consider selling.