Why Tottenham’s ‘future captain’ will suffer if Tonali and Fernandes are signed

It is no exaggeration to say that final yr was a curler coaster for Tottenham Hotspur.

Thomas Frank was employed a yr in the past, and since then two extra managers have been added. The Igor Tudor period was a whole catastrophe and virtually resulted in relegation.

Nonetheless, Roberto De Zerbi answered Spurs’ name and saved them from an surprising state of affairs. He at present has the liberty to be fairly wild within the switch market, however few can deny the standard of his signings up to now.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan-Paul van Hecke is the epitome of Italian soccer, however he was additionally instrumental in bringing the likes of Marcos Senesi and Andy Roberton to north London.

The following merchandise on the agenda is to grow to be absolutely lively within the switch market. Sandro Tonali, price an estimated £100m, and Matheus Fernandes, price an estimated £85m, might break the membership’s switch file and signal.

Why Spurs need to signal Tonali and Fernandes

Spurs had a number of issues final season, however the one-dimensional nature of their midfield was a serious hindrance, with James Maddison being brutally robbed of taking part in time with a torn ACL.

Tudor and Co. tried to resolve the difficulty by bringing in Conor Gallagher within the winter. Nonetheless, regardless of turning into the membership’s highest earner, he by no means actually set the world on hearth.

Like the vast majority of Tottenham’s midfielders, he lacked the flexibility to drive play ahead. You’ll be able to by no means doubt Gallagher’s dedication to the trigger, however he lacked velocity, he lacked drive, and he lacked the flexibility to progress the ball between the strains.

The identical goes for colleagues corresponding to Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, João Parinha and Archie Grey.

Due to this fact, it’s perceived as a serious weak point in the direction of summer season home windows. He explains his hyperlinks with Newcastle’s Tonali and West Ham’s Fernandes.

The previous has lengthy been thought of an elite participant within the engine room, together with his agent Beppe Riso hailing him as “probably the greatest midfielders on the planet”. With an asking worth of £100m, it is arduous to dispute that declare.

The 26-year-old Italian is in his prime, however the 21-year-old Fernandes remains to be a spring rooster as compared. Buying each would make the Spurs a surprisingly balanced workforce.

All through the 2025/26 season, in comparison with under-21 midfielders in Europe’s high seven leagues, Fernandes was first in interceptions, possession wins and defensive duels gained, and second in progressive passes accomplished. There is a motive he is already being in comparison with Declan Rice.

Nonetheless, regardless of his potential arrival, it will not be excellent news for one in every of Tottenham’s brightest skills.

What Tonali and Fernandes transfers imply for Spurs’ future captain

Spurs have not executed a lot in latest switch home windows, however to their credit score, they’ve executed properly by way of signing Europe’s high younger expertise.

Lately, the Lilywhites have had two of essentially the most promising midfielders in Lukas Bergvall and Grey, whereas additionally securing the signing of probably the greatest centre-backs of the long run, Luka Vusković.

Since becoming a member of from Leeds in a deal price £30 million, the English participant has threatened to indicate off his elite potential however has been woefully inconsistent.

Nonetheless, there are a number of causes for this. The 20-year-old performed usually at Leeds as a right-back and has additionally featured at Tottenham, however was traded to grow to be a midfielder and hasn’t performed sufficient there.

In consequence, Grey has struggled to seek out any momentum in a Spurs shirt. Nonetheless, that does not cease Harry Redknapp from tipping off proficient younger gamers because the membership’s ‘future captain’, however sadly it seems like that can by no means occur, even when Tonali and Fernandes are signed.

The previous Leeds man was already in danger earlier than these connections. Actually, after De Zerbi’s arrival, Grey hardly kicked a ball.

The England youth worldwide was an unused substitute in 4 of his final 5 league video games and didn’t play a single minute in video games in opposition to Wolves, Aston Villa, Leeds and Chelsea. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see what Grey does subsequent, though it is clear De Zerbi would not belief him throughout essentially the most pressure-filled interval of the season.

He was as soon as hailed as a “younger Declan Rice” by The Athletic’s Duncan Alexander, however sadly he struggled to enhance.

There isn’t any doubt that Grey’s versatility is a large boon for any supervisor, however he hasn’t lived as much as the hype and it is clear that De Zerbi would not like him all that a lot.

He has struggled for recreation time through the enterprise levels of the season, and even with the signing of two potential gamers in midfield, issues are unlikely to get any simpler. It appears excessive, however it seems that any hopes of him turning into a daily on the beginning lineup are fully over.