Newcastle reject £80m Spurs bid for Tonali

Newcastle reject Tottenham bid for Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali; Tonali is top target for Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi; 26-year-old is contracted until 2029, and club would only consider selling for huge fee; Magpies have already sold Anthony Gordon this summer to Barcelona

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>Newcastle have rejected an offer from Tottenham of around £80m for Sandro Tonali.

>Spurs' offer landed earlier this week and was knocked back by Newcastle immediately.

>The Italy international is a top target for Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi as he looks to rebuild his squad after helping the club avoid relegation from the Premier League.

>Man City are also interested in the midfielder, as well as continuing their pursuit of Nottingham Forest and England international Elliot Anderson.

>Tonali, 26, has three years left on his Newcastle contract, with a club option for an additional year.

>He signed for Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m three years ago.

>One of the club's top priorities this summer is improving the technical ability of the squad and bringing in a midfielder who can dictate play.

>Tonali has been identified by De Zerbi as an ideal candidate for that role.

>The Italian will have a big say on transfers and a move for Newcastle's Tonali would underline Spurs' commitment to backing De Zerbi and their promise to spend significantly on improving the squad.

>Sky Sports News reported in April that there was a general understanding that Tonali - along with Anthony Gordon and Tino Livramento - may like a new challenge this summer. Gordon has already signed for Barcelona in a £69m transfer.

>Spurs have already secured the free-agent signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, while a deal to sign Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m has also been agreed.

>Brighton have made an improved £45m bid for Spurs' teenage centre-back Luka Vuskovic. The 19-year-old, who established himself as one of Europe's top young defenders on loan at Hamburg, is keen to move to Brighton.

>As mentioned, Spurs are looking to create a squad capable of playing in the style of De Zerbi and finding a central midfielder who can dictate play is a key part of the plan.

>Spurs have been searching for a winger to replace Heung-Min Son for a year but have so far been unsuccessful, failing with moves for Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo. Man City's Savinho is one of the players on their list this summer.

>De Zerbi also wants to bring in another striker, perhaps with the ability to play across the whole front line, to give him a variety of options in case Spurs' injury crisis does not let up next season.

>Spurs may also need to sign another goalkeeper if Guglielmo Vicario returns to Italy. Juventus have him on their list as they evaluate a potential transfer, while Inter were previously interested. Antonin Kinsky kept the No 1 spot for the run-in under De Zerbi.

>Do not rule out a permanent move for Joao Palhinha if Spurs can agree a fee with Bayern Munich after the set option price expired after the end of the season. Spurs face potential competition for his signature from Sporting.

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