Arsenal and Tottenham Set for Transfer Tug-of-War Over Sandro Tonali
By Content Editor Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Correspondent, and Senior Sports Journalist Jake Stokes
Published: 14:31, 16 June 2026
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur could find themselves competing for the signature of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer. With both North London clubs eager to reinforce their engine rooms, Mikel Arteta and Roberto De Zerbi are reportedly weighing up moves for the Italian international.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs have now entered the fray alongside Manchester City and the Gunners. The transfer insider suggests that Tottenham view Tonali as the “ideal” recruit to help turn their fortunes around after enduring back-to-back relegation scraps.
Meanwhile, The Athletic reports that while a sale of the 26-year-old “remains on the cards,” Newcastle have yet to field any “formal proposals.” The Magpies are expected to hold out for a “substantial fee,” with several of the Premier League’s top clubs—Arsenal included—keeping a close watch on developments.
Both Arsenal and Tottenham are gearing up for significant summer spending. Last month, Arteta spoke of his intent to be “very ambitious” in the market, while De Zerbi echoed similar sentiments, stating his aim to “build a new team.”
With that in mind, football.london’s journalists have offered their takes on which club would be the better fit for Tonali.
Alasdair Gold
Tottenham are fighting an uphill battle in any transfer race right now, especially without European football and with consecutive 17th-place finishes weighing heavily on their reputation.
However, in the race for Tonali, Spurs have a potential game-changer: Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian connection could prove pivotal, with De Zerbi well-placed to outline exactly how Tonali would fit into his system and become a cornerstone of the club’s push to rejoin the top four.
At Tottenham, Tonali would be sold on a vision where he serves as the heartbeat of a revamped side—one backed by owners ready to invest heavily to avoid a repeat of last season’s nightmare. At Arsenal, he would rotate across multiple competitions, but at Spurs, he’d be the undisputed main man, starting week in, week out. Sometimes, feeling truly indispensable makes all the difference.
Spurs have also loosened their wage structure this year, meaning they can offer Tonali a significantly improved package—finally putting them on more equal financial footing with their rivals.
Verdict: Tonali to Tottenham.
Jake Stokes
Arsenal should go all out to land Sandro Tonali this summer. Not only would it strengthen Arteta’s squad, but it would also deny De Zerbi a key target—a double blow in the transfer market.
With a gruelling fixture list ahead, Arteta needs depth and quality across the board. Even if Tonali sought assurances over regular starts, he’d likely accumulate more minutes across Arsenal’s various campaigns than at Tottenham, who have no European commitments to offer.
While the prospect of building something exciting under De Zerbi at Spurs is tempting, the Italian manager has yet to oversee more than 100 matches since leaving Sassuolo in 2021. Arteta, by contrast, is firmly entrenched in a six-and-a-half-year project, with full control and an enduring hunger for trophies.
Verdict: Tonali to Arsenal.
Sam Truelove
I’m a big admirer of Sandro Tonali. At 26, he’s one of the Premier League’s finest midfielders—equally adept as a number 6 or number 8, though his ten goals in 110 Newcastle appearances suggest he leans more toward the defensive side of the game.
But does he really suit Arsenal? Their midfield is already well-stocked, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice on the books. I’m not convinced Tonali fills a pressing need for them.
Tottenham, on the other hand, could certainly use him more urgently. But would the Italian really choose Spurs? After back-to-back 17th-place finishes, they’re hardly in a position to offer the kind of title-challenging environment a player of his calibre craves.
If I were in Tonali’s shoes, I’d be steering toward a move to Manchester City or Manchester United—clubs better positioned to match his ambitions.
Verdict: Tonali to Man City or Manchester United.
