Why There's a Satisfying Smell of Opportunism Around Mateus Fernandes, But Tonali Is the Real Weathervane

Our man Finn provides insight to the transfer

Mateus Fernandes is not a bad signing, but it still has that smell of opportunism about it; it’s essentially carpet-bagging despite the fee. Tonali, on the other hand, is in the open market, and that is where we tend to aspire, but fail - in fairness, van Hecke was also open market, but we had a good run at him with both VDV and RDZ being known quantities to him.

However, if successful, we will have overpaid for both, but that’s the reality of coming 17th twice on the trot along with an ever-inflating player market. But Newcastle, I think, will hold out, especially if City are sniffing around, unless we can offer them what they want.

Tonali would/will be a different statement; there is no real connection, and if he arrives, we will have paid top dollar in a competitive market, and the player has (apart from a fat pay cheque) been comfortable with the club’s and RDZ’s ambitions.

If we could get that one over the line, I think we can then be fully focused on the job of re-engineering the forward options.

I feel if the backing IS there then we need to act decisively, not usual for THFC. Still, with Tonali in and at the start of July, we’ll have time to shape the style of play RDZ wants, with the players he wants and have a good bit of time in hand to start clearing the woodshed and trying to find someone who can actually hit a cow’s ars* with a banjo.

For me at this point, Tonali is the weathervane by which we can judge the club’s intentions.

HH Says:

Elite in duels, Fernandes won % (82nd) and possessions won (83rd); solid in progressive carries (58th), forward passes completed (60th), and progressive passes (64th).

He is technically sound under pressure, progressive with the ball, and a high-intensity presser who wins it back and transitions quickly. His profile is often compared to well-rounded midfielders who contribute across phases of play.

Fernandes is a high-upside, well-rounded midfielder who should immediately improve Tottenham’s midfield engine room, pressing intensity, progressive play, and goal/assist contributions from that area.

At a club-record fee, he is expected to become a cornerstone player for years to come, the type of athletic, technical, multi-phase contributor that fits modern Premier League demands perfectly.