Tottenham Hotspur’s summer spending spree is set to continue as the club will break its one- or two-day-old transfer record by signing midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for up to $133 million.
MORE — Spurs, West Ham agree deal for Mateus Fernandes
Spurs agreed to sign another midfielder, Mateus Fernandes, from West Ham United for $112 million on Tuesday as Roberto De Zerbi rebuilds the side that finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons. Manchester City were linked with a move for Tonali agreeing to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest last week.
Where do Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes fit in Spurs’ midfield plans?
Tonali and Fernandes should quickly become Spurs’ starting midfield, given not only their price tags but especially De Zerbi’s desired playing style. Under the Italian, Brighton often made every effort to bait opponents to press them high up the field in order to create transitional moments during periods of possession. The midfielders must be athletic to escape pressure while carrying the ball forward, or possess the vision and skill to find and connect one-touch passes upfield.
Spurs are spending freely after decades of penny pinching under Daniel Levy’s leadership. Now, in the first summer transfer window since his departure, the Lewis family have already empowered De Zerbi in a way that no manager before him was given.
Yves Bissouma left the club this week after his contract expired on June 30 and it looks increasingly likely that the option in Joao Palhinha’s loan to make the move permanent will not be executed. Conor Gallagher, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are the other midfielders vying for minutes in midfield, though Gray and Bergvall have been the subject of transfer rumors in recent days.
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