Former England striker Darren Bent has urged Arsenal to steer clear of a £100 million move for Sandro Tonali, insisting the club should prioritise strengthening other areas of the squad. The Newcastle United midfielder is at the centre of a Premier League transfer battle this summer, with Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus all monitoring his situation. Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered the race, with new manager Roberto De Zerbi playing a key role in the pursuit.
Bent's Verdict on Tonali's Value
Speaking on talkSPORT, Bent, a lifelong Arsenal fan, stated: 'Listen, Arsenal aren’t paying £100m for Tonali. He’s a very good player, but that’s a position Arsenal don’t need to worry about. Yes, I’d love to take him at Arsenal, 100 per cent, but not for £100m.' Bent believes the Italy international is worth around £80-85 million, adding that Arsenal should spend their transfer budget elsewhere.
Tottenham's Pursuit and De Zerbi's Role
Reports from Italy claim Tottenham have 'forcefully' entered the race, with De Zerbi central to the deal. Tonali is said to be 'open' to a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium despite their narrow escape from relegation last season. Bent commented: 'What you’re going to have to sell to Tonali is the project. De Zerbi will say, "I get it, we’ve had a couple of down years… but we’re starting to rebuild and you could be that crown jewel right in the middle." If they can sell that project, maybe they get it over the line.'
Newcastle's Stance and Tonali's Agent
Newcastle are demanding £100m for Tonali, who signed a new contract in January tying him to St James' Park until 2029. However, his agent Giuseppe Riso hinted in March that the move was always seen as a stepping stone. 'We considered the idea of having the player play in a higher-level league,' Riso said. 'That was the goal from the moment he went to England – to try to make him a star player.'
- Arsenal held direct talks with Tonali six months ago as cover for injured Mikel Merino.
- Manchester United and Manchester City are also monitoring the situation.
- Juventus remain interested in the 26-year-old midfielder.
Bent concluded: 'He’d be brilliant for Manchester United, but £100m is a lot of money.'
