The transfer window keeps on rolling and the deals keep on flowing as Tottenham Hotspur this morning announced the club record signing of midfielder Sandro Tonali:
The Italian midfielder has signed with Spurs for a deal purported to be around £100 million, a huge fee that anybody who has been following the club for some time will scarcely be able to comprehend.
Tonali is yet another player to join from a fellow English club, joining from Newcastle United after spending three years on Tyneside. That stint was a mixed one, with Tonali’s time on the field interrupted by a suspension due to breaches of both the Italian Football Federation’s and English FA’s gambling regulations. Despite this, on the pitch he was largely a success, endearing himself to their fans and they to him, with Tonali posting an emotional farewell post via social media:
It’s a transfer that is something of a puzzling one for Spurs. Though the Lilywhites have desperately needed investment in their midfield for some time, Tonali’s profile is relatively similar to those already on Spurs’ books: a do-everything midfielder who is a dynamic runner and aggressive presser. He’s just a bit better at all of the above, which includes Spurs’ missing secret sauce in the form of passing, while not really being a playmaker. He also benefitted from playing next to the excellent Bruno Guimaraes in Newcastle’s midfield, which made up for some of Tonali’s weaknesses.
With that in mind, his past controversies, and his age meaning it’s unlikely Spurs will be able to recoup the cost, £100 million feels very much an overpay. Don’t get me wrong – Tonali is a GOOD player – but £100 million good? That’s probably pushing it, and in some ways feels a bit like another Conor Gallagher deal, whereby Spurs are spending big for a recognizable name.
That said: it’s not my money, and Spurs have shown no willingness this summer to stop spending. My concern in years gone by would be largely around opportunity cost: who do we miss out on due to pushing this deal through? But this new version of the club seems to be very happy to throw cash around like it’s confetti, so in this case that concern may be largely unfounded.
Tonali was clearly a player identified early in the summer, with Roberto De Zerbi reportedly a huge fan of the midfielder. The two apparently were in regular conversation following the end of the season, with Spurs’ head coach key in convincing Tonali to join, perhaps capitalizing on a point of familiarity with the two coming from the same town in Italy.
This means an all-new midfield duo for the coming season, with Mateus Fernandes also already locked in. It’s an exciting prospect for any Spurs fan, who will be hopeful this season will be a significant turnaround from the last.
Welcome to the club, Sandro! (Can we call him Sandro #2?)
