Just under a month has passed since Tottenham Hotspur secured their Premier League survival, and Roberto De Zerbi made it clear to the press that there would be no breaks or downtime for his squad.
It was a bold statement, but an appropriate one—a club of this stature shouldn’t find itself fighting near the relegation zone.
Two consecutive 17th-place finishes in the league have bookended a Europa League triumph, yet there’s now a glimmer of optimism surrounding Spurs.
De Zerbi and the recruitment team are pushing forward aggressively in the transfer window. The Lilywhites have already made significant moves to bolster their defense, securing Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m, alongside free-transfer arrivals Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.
However, even bigger ambitions lie ahead.
Spurs optimistic about record-breaking signing
At long last, Tottenham are beginning to behave like a major club, throwing their hat into the ring for some of the Premier League’s top talents.
Recent reports have revealed their interest in West Ham’s Matheus Fernandes, with formal inquiries made. Though the player may lean toward Manchester United, the mere fact that Spurs have opened talks for a potential £80m asset signals a notable shift in mindset.
While that move appears uncertain, a pursuit of Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali is gaining traction. On Saturday night, it emerged that Spurs had an initial £75m offer turned down, but they remain undeterred. Personal terms are said to be already agreed, and the Italian is reportedly open to a surprising switch to Tottenham.
So where does things stand after that rejected bid? According to Football.London’s Alasdair Gold, following further discussions, there is now “rising confidence” that a deal can be finalized this summer, with Gold labeling it a true “statement signing” should it materialize. Newcastle, for their part, continue to hold out for a staggering £100m fee.
Why Tonali could be Tottenham’s new Modric
Watching Tottenham’s midfield last season was a struggle, to say the least. In January, Conor Gallagher arrived to inject energy into the center of the park, but he largely failed to make a positive impact—at least until De Zerbi took over.
The midfield unit often looked slow and sluggish, lacking power, drive, and dynamism. With Gallagher, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Pape Matar Sarr, Spurs possessed a collection of one-dimensional players who struggled to progress the ball effectively.
It’s no surprise, then, that Spurs have targeted two high-profile midfield reinforcements this summer. The club has boasted some of the finest midfielders of their era in the past—think Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, and Luka Modric.
The latter, a former Ballon d’Or winner, made his name in England before moving to Real Madrid, renowned for his ability to glide through midfield and deliver exceptional passing range.
Both Modric and Tonali share a similar role: they rarely charge forward but instead operate as classic No. 6s, almost like quarterbacks—the Andrea Pirlo archetype.
Their job is to shield the defense, not as aggressive duel-winners, but as tempo-setters who dictate play and distribute passes across the pitch.
Modric’s passing remains one of his greatest strengths; even at 40, he completed 90% of his passes for AC Milan in Serie A last season, with a career average of 89.4%. Tonali, meanwhile, has posted an 85% pass success rate over the past two campaigns. Both excel at long-range passing—make a run in behind, and they’ll find you more often than not.
They also tend to avoid heavy involvement in attacking phases. Modric has scored roughly once every 11.5 matches and assisted every seven games, while Tonali finds the net every 15 appearances and sets up a goal every nine outings.
Another shared trait is their ball-carrying ability and resistance to pressure. Last season, their progressive carry stats were nearly identical: Tonali averaged 1.10 per 90 minutes, compared to Modric’s 1.05. Visually, they move with similar grace, gliding across the pitch seamlessly—a genuine pleasure to watch at full flow.
At just 25, Tonali hasn’t yet reached Modric’s level, but his agent Beppe Riso has described him as “one of the best midfielders in the world.”
For years, Spurs have lacked that Modric-like conductor—someone with elite composure under pressure and the vision to control matches. In Tonali, they could finally find exactly that.
