Spurs confident of sealing club-record signing

After Tottenham Hotspur beat the drop just under a month ago, Roberto De Zerbi told the media that there would be no holidays, no time away.

It was a big message to send but the right one. This great club should not be languishing near the foot of the table.

Back to back 17th places in the Premier League have been sandwiched by a Europa League crown but there is a light at the end of the tunnel now for Spurs. De Zerbi and the recruitment team are motoring in the transfer window.

The Lilywhites have already made big plays to strengthen their backline with Jan Paul van Hecke recently signing in a £52m deal. He joined Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi who both arrived on free transfers.

That said, bigger moves are on the horizon than Van Hecke.

Spurs confident of sealing club-record signing

At long, long last, Spurs are starting to act like a big club. They are starting to put their name in the hat to sign some of the Premier League’s best players.

Remarkable reports have emerged in recent days detailing an interest in Matues Fernandes at West Ham. Spurs have made enquiries about the player and even if he may favour a move to Manchester United, the fact they have even begun talks to sign a player who could be worth as much as £80m is quite something.

While this move does feel rather unlikely right now, a move for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali is beginning to gather pace.

It was revealed on Saturday night that Spurs have already seen an opening bid of £75m rejected for the Italian but there has not deterred them.

Personal terms are reportedly already in place and the midfielder is open to heading to Tottenham in a shock move.

So, what’s the status of the deal now after that first bid? Well, according to Football.London’s Alasdair Goldafter holding talks, there is now a “rising confidence” that a deal can be struck to bring Tonali to Spurs this summer, labelling it as a real “statement signing” if it got done.

If they are to sign the player then Newcastle continue to point towards a mega £100m asking price.

Why Tonali could be Tottenham’s new Modric

Watching Tottenham’s midfield last season was a struggle, it really was.

In January, they signed Conor Gallagher in a bid to impact the centre of the pitch in a positive manner but he certainly did not do that, at least until De Zerbi joined anyway.

The midfield was slow, it was sluggish, it lacked any sort of power, any sort of drive. In the likes of Gallagher, Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr, they had a crop of one dimensional midfielders who could not progress play very well.

So, it’s understandable to see that Spurs have identified two big-money midfield additions this summer. In the past, they have had some of the best midfielders of this generation. Think Dele, think Christian Eriksen and think Luka Modric.

The former Ballon d’Or winner made his name in English football before heading to Real Madrid and is famed for his ability to shuttle around in midfield and for displaying an immaculate passing range.

The primary job of both Modric and Tonali is to rarely attack. They are the classic number 6 type, almost something of a quarterback. Call it the Andrea Pirlo role if you will.

Their job is to sit in front of the defence and while not aggressive duel winners, they will dictate the tempo of matches and spray passes around.

One of Modric’s biggest strengths is his passing ability. Even now at the age of 40, he completed 90% of his passes for AC Milan in Serie A last season. His career average pass success rate is up at 89.4%. Tonali, on the other hand, has ended the last two seasons with an average success of 85%. In particular, both players are exceptionally good at long passing. Make a run in behind and they will largely always find you.

They don’t tend to get involved too much in the attacking phases of play. While the legendardy Croatian has registered a goal every 11.5 matches and an assist every seven games, Tonali has found the net every 15 appearances and registered an assist every nine outings.

What also makes them alike is their ball-carrying and press resistance. Last season, they were very close for progressive carries of the football. Tonali completed 1.10 per 90 minutes while Modric managed 1.05.

On the eye, they also look rather similar. They glide around the pitch so seamlessly and so effortlessly. It really is a joy to watch in full flow.

Aged just 25, the Newcastle star is clearly not on the level of Modric just yet but this is a player who has been described as “one of the best midfielders in the world” by his agent Beppe Riso.

Over recent years, Spurs have really lacked that Modric-like tempo setter, a player capable of demonstrating elite press resistance and the ability to dictate play. In Tonali, they would find just that.