Tottenham have had a second approach for Sandro Tonali rejected | OneFootball

Newcastle United have rejected a second transfer approach from Tottenham Hotspur for midfielder Sandro Tonali, maintaining a firm stance that the Italy international will only be allowed to leave for a fee close to their £100 million valuation.

Rather than launching an improved offer, Tottenham’s second formal move was a request that Newcastle reconsider their opening £75m bid.

Newcastle swiftly informed Tottenham that their stance has not changed, dealing a blow to Roberto De Zerbi, who is keen to work with Tonali at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The current strict economic position enforced at St James’ Park is driven by two factors. First, Newcastle’s board must handle a mandatory 10% sell-on clause owed to AC Milan as part of the initial transaction that brought the midfielder to England in 2023. Consequently, Eddie Howe’s side are not willing to compromise on their valuation of the 26-year-old.

Second, the Magpies’ position has been significantly strengthened by Anthony Gordon’s lucrative £69.3 million transfer to Barcelona, meaning they have no urgent need to sell any key player to avoid breaching PSR guidelines.

De Zerbi has identified Tonali as a prime target to anchor his midfield. Armed with a fresh £100 million equity injection from the Lewis family trust via ENIC Holdings, Tottenham have the financial muscle to break their long-standing transfer record to bridge the valuation gap.

However, they face competition from Premier League champions Arsenal, who have also been linked, although the Gunners currently appear to have their sights set on Bruno Guimaraes.