Newcastle United have rejected an £80m offer from Tottenham Hotspur for midfielder Sandro Tonali.
The bid was submitted earlier this week, but was rejected by the Premier League club, which is not under pressure to sell and has placed a high valuation on the player.
Reports reveal that Tottenham manager, Roberto de Zerbi, has been a long-term admirer of Tonali and that the club had been assessing the financial structure of a potential deal for the 26-year-old Italy international.
Despite that interest, Newcastle dismissed the opening proposal, with sources indicating they would consider only offers closer to £100m as interest from other clubs continues to develop.
Manchester City and Arsenal are both monitoring the situation.
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Newcastle’s stance is consistent with their broader transfer policy. Although the club has already sanctioned the sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, chief executive David Hopkinson has previously stated that players would only be sold on terms set by the club.
Tonali remains under contract until 2030 after signing a long-term extension during his 10-month betting ban, a move that underlined the club’s commitment to him at the time.
The situation is also influenced by wider market conditions, with midfield valuations continuing to rise across Europe. Manchester City recently had a second bid of about £120m rejected by Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson, while West Ham, following relegation, are seeking up to £80m for Mateus Fernandes.
(BBC)
