Midfielder wants to join Arsenal instead of Tottenham as Spurs ready to make second offer

Sandro Tonali is open to joining Tottenham Hotspur this summer, but Arsenal is understood to be his top choice if the Premier League champions firm up their interest in the Newcastle United midfielder. Tottenham are expected to come back with an improved offer after having their initial bid rejected, with Spurs ready to push hard for a deal and currently considered the most advanced club in the race.

The potential fee remains an obvious complication, with Newcastle under no pressure to sell the player under contract at St James' Park until 2029, with the option of an additional year. Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan three years ago in a £55m deal and has since become one of their key players. Despite Newcastle experiencing financial difficulties, which forced them to sell Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, ​​the club is still likely to demand a substantial fee for the Italian midfielder.

Reports differ slightly on the size of Tottenham's rejected initial bid, with one figure sitting at £75m and another around £80m, but the direction of travel is clear. Spurs are preparing to try again, and Roberto De Zerbi is central to their push.

Arsenal's position is more complicated. James McNicholas reports for The Athletic that Mikel Arteta remains fond of Tonali, although the length of the midfielder's contract means a deal may prove too expensive. David Ornstein also confirmed interest from Arsenal and Manchester City, adding that Andrea Berta contacted the player's agent in the January transfer window. Newcastle didn't want to do business at the time, while the asking price was beyond Arsenal's budget at that stage.

The price does not appear to be showing any decline, although Newcastle now appear open to a deal if the club meets their valuation. That leaves Arsenal with a decision to make. Tonali's preference, should Arsenal strengthen their interest, gives the champions a clear advantage over Tottenham, especially with Champions League football. Spurs, on the other hand, may need to be more aggressive. Two consecutive 17th-place finishes have left them in very different market positions.

If Newcastle's valuation proves too high for Arsenal and City, Tottenham's best/only chance may be to overpay where their competitors won't. The price of despair. Meanwhile, Newcastle have followed their long-standing interest in Kees Smit as they prepare for Tonali's possible departure. The Dutch midfielder, valued at £60m by AZ Alkmaar, is also attracting strong competition, underlining the scale of the moving parts surrounding any deal this summer.