Although Tottenham Hotspur are also highly interested in Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United and have been linked to two other quality Premier League center midfielders in Adam Wharton and Alex Scott, there is no question that their top target of choice under Roberto De Zerbi right now is the Italian international Sandro Tonali, who feels like he could still be doing a whole lot better in a system away from Newcastle United.
Spurs love their chances at landing Tonali, who is, like Jan Paul van Hecke, a big fan of De Zerbi and is being actively pulled in by the former Sassuolo and Brighton manager. De Zerbi has big plans for Tonali as a centerpiece midfielder in his system in possession, and it seems that all Spurs need to do is pay the 85 million pounds that Newcastle want to make the deal happen.
But Tottenham fans have had the rug pulled out from under them by other Premier League powerhouses too often to get their hopes up. The main two suspects just happen to be the two title contenders interested in Tonali, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Manchester City are focusing on other midfielders
Arsenal were the most interested club in Tonali during the regular season but seemed to cool their interest, though Spurs were not going to take that for granted, given how they stole Eberechi Eze from under theor noses last summer in the final seconds. As for Man City, they have been contending most actively with Tottenham, though Spurs have shown more interest - and City just signed Elliot Anderson for more than 100 million pounds.
Still, Tottenham Hotsupr supporters were not about to rest easy with Manchester City still actively talking. But now, MARCA's Matteo Moretto has given Spurs fans concrete hope that Sandro Tonali is all theirs and only theirs.
Per Moretto, after signing Elliot Anderson, Manchester City are indeed looking at another midfield signing, except their focus appears to be on Morocco breakout star Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille. The 18 year old PSG and Real Madrid transfer target is high on Man City's list, and the Citizens are "very interested" in the latest sensation from Les Dogues. They have even reportedly started direct contacts with the Ligue 1 club for Bouaddi.
So if Manchester City already signed Anderson and are after another potential 70 million euro signing in Bouaddi who is being courted by other Champions League title contenders, that would seem to leave the path 100 percent bare for Tottenham, barring a scary swoop from Arsenal. Tonali's fate is one step closer to N17 now.
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