Tottenham Hotspur are wasting no time in ensuring whatever went down in 2025/26 is never repeated.
After performing a minor miracle to keep a broken Spurs squad in the top flight, Roberto De Zerbi has all the power he could possibly want. A desperate hierarchy had no choice but to hand the fiery Italian the keys (including a bumper contract), and now we're starting to see De Zerbi go to work in the transfer market.
Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi were defensive targets that pre-dated the current manager, while winger target Savinho was on the club's radar last summer. Now, we're starting to see De Zerbi's targets come to the fore, including centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke.
But Fabrizio Romano's latest transfer bomba doesn't feature a name any of us thought would be on the Lilywhites' radar this summer.
Tottenham in race to pull off stunning Sandro Tonali deal
The holes in this Spurs squad are widespread, and De Zerbi hinted at a major reshuffle in personnel right after survival was confirmed on the final day. The Lewis family is seemingly ready to throw some money around, and they're going to have to whack plenty down if they're to land De Zerbi's dream midfield target.
Fabrizio Romano has reported on Monday evening that Spurs have entered the race to sign Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali. Manchester City and Arsenal have previously been linked with the Italian, but De Zerbi is defiant and wants to lay down a marker at the start of his north London project.
What aids Spurs' cause is that Newcastle are not in Europe next season, and they're seemingly in a reset mood this summer, having already parted ways with Anthony Gordon. Still, they'd only entertain mammoth offers for Tonali, and you'd suspect the Lilywhites wouldn't stand much of a chance if one of the Premier League's top two made a serious push.
City, though, are prioritising a mammoth move for Elliot Anderson, and Arsenal are likely to commit the bulk of its resources to bolstering the left-hand side of their attack.
Moreover, Fabrizio's sidekick, Matteo Moretto, understands that Tonali would be open to joining the club.
There is, of course, a local connection between De Zerbi and Tonali. The Tottenham boss is Brescia-born, where the star midfielder developed as a teenager, and for whom he made his senior debut. Tonali was born in Lodi, an hour's drive from Brescia.
Newcastle supporters expect the Italian to depart, and I can certainly envisage Tonali wanting to play for De Zerbi. There will be a grand pitch, with the manager perhaps offering the 26-year-old a share of the power he's attained in N17.
He wants Tonali to be the face of whatever he's building.
Add us as a preferred source on Google