Tottenham’s Midfield Rebuild: Targets Tonali, Fernandes, and Scott
Tottenham’s midfield rebuild is starting to look less like a tweak and more like a full-scale refit.
Roberto De Zerbi has made the centre of the pitch the club’s transfer battleground this summer, and the names involved tell their own story: Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Alex Scott. Three very different midfielders, one clear message – Spurs intend to upgrade the heart of their team with proven quality and serious upside.
Tonali chase sets the tone
Tonali has become the headline act in this strategy. The Newcastle midfielder sits right at the top of Tottenham’s wish list, and the club have already moved beyond idle admiration.
Talks with Tonali’s representatives have taken place throughout June, with the Italy international understood to be open to a move to north London if the clubs can agree a fee. That is the hard part.
Newcastle value him at around £100 million. Tottenham’s opening offer, believed to be in the region of £80m, was rejected by the Magpies, underlining both his importance at St James’ Park and the scale of the investment Spurs would need to make to get him.
For De Zerbi, Tonali represents ready-made pedigree in the middle of the park – a player who brings European experience, bite, and tempo. For Tottenham’s hierarchy, he is the kind of marquee midfield signing that would define a window.
They are not stopping at one.
Fernandes talks gather pace
West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes has emerged as another major target and, crucially, one where negotiations appear more advanced.
The Portugal international enjoyed an impressive campaign in east London, catching the eye with his blend of energy and technical quality. Interest has followed. Plenty of it.
Tottenham, though, have moved with purpose. Multiple reports suggest the club have already made meaningful progress on the player’s side, with some sources indicating Fernandes is edging towards an agreement on personal terms.
The Independent reported this week that talks between Spurs and West Ham have been positive, with a deal potentially rising to around £85 million under discussion. That kind of fee would place Fernandes firmly in the bracket of cornerstone signing rather than squad option.
Those developments only harden the sense that Tottenham are determined to reshape their midfield now, not gradually over several windows.
Dubravka deal underlines quiet evolution
While the big-money discussions dominate the headlines, Spurs have already completed business elsewhere.
Martin Dubravka has arrived on a free transfer following his departure from Burnley, adding experience and competition in goal. The former Newcastle keeper spent last season at Turf Moor after his long spell on Tyneside, and his move to north London fits a pattern: smart, low-cost depth around the edges while the club lines up heavyweight deals in key areas.
Piece by piece, De Zerbi’s squad is shifting.
Tottenham join Alex Scott race – but Bournemouth stand firm
Amid all that, Tottenham have also turned their attention to one of the Premier League’s most coveted young midfielders.
Alex Scott, the 22-year-old Bournemouth standout, is on their radar. According to Sky Sports, Spurs are among several clubs tracking the former Bristol City talent, who has grown into one of the Cherries’ most important players over the last two seasons.
His rise has not gone unnoticed. Manchester United and Arsenal have already made initial enquiries for the £60 million-rated midfielder. Both were knocked back.
Bournemouth’s stance could hardly be clearer: they do not want to sell Scott in this window. Club officials have communicated that message to all interested parties and are working from a very different playbook – one built around retention, not cashing in.
Talks over a new contract are already under way, with Bournemouth hopeful that Scott will commit his long-term future to the south coast and continue his development under newly appointed head coach Marco Rose. Keeping him, not auctioning him, remains the preferred outcome.
Scott’s reputation continues to climb even without the gloss of a major international tournament. He missed out on England’s World Cup squad this summer, despite being strongly considered, but his club form has ensured his name stays firmly in the notebooks of elite recruiters.
Tottenham are now in that queue. Newcastle are holding firm on Tonali. West Ham are engaged in serious conversations over Fernandes. Bournemouth are digging in over Scott.
Three clubs, three different battles – and one question hanging over Spurs’ summer: which of these midfielders will actually walk through the doors at Hotspur Way and anchor De Zerbi’s new-look engine room?
