Tottenham have strongly entered the race to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer. One explanation has emerged as to why De Zerbi may have the edge in any Tonali-to-Tottenham deal.
Both are from Lombardy, one of Italy’s 20 administrative regions. Lodi and Brescia are in the same region, roughly 50–60 km apart, and both cities are in the broader Milan metropolitan influence area. This shared regional background (plus both being Italian) is the connection that could help De Zerbi in recruiting Tonali.
Tonali even started his youth career at Brescia, De Zerbi’s hometown club. This regional tie adds a nice personal touch to the current Tottenham links.
talkSPORT say that no approach has yet been made; however, Spurs have made Tonali a top target, with new manager Roberto De Zerbi pushing hard for the signing. He’s seen as the ideal midfield upgrade to elevate the squad and show ambition in the new project.
Tonali’s current Newcastle United contract has two years remaining before it expiration in 2028.
What would the Italian bring to N17?
Tonali would bring quality, energy, leadership, and tactical versatility to Tottenham’s midfield. At 26, there’s no doubt that he is a player in his prime and has developed into one of the Premier League’s stronger central midfielders.
Spurs have struggled with midfield control, forward passing, and consistency in recent seasons, often relying on a mix of veterans and young talents such as Archie Grey, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, and others. Frankly, it had become a bit of a mess, and roles had not been clearly defined.
The Athletic described Sandro as “…a high-intensity, front-footed player who covers ground well, wins duels, and contributes defensively while pushing forward. He’s effective at regaining possession and driving transitions.”
This is a player with excellent vision, one-touch passing, and the ability to play progressive or long-range balls to start attacks. Tonali can control tempo and create overloads.
Given the De Zerbi connection, this is one deal fans will be all over!
