Tottenham Hotspur face the prospect of Arsenal or Manchester City hijacking their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali after the Magpies rejected an £80 million bid, according to former Spurs defender Alan Hutton.
Spurs' Bid Rejected, Newcastle Hold Out for £100m
Tottenham launched an £80 million offer for the Italy international last week, but Newcastle swiftly turned it down. The Magpies are demanding £100 million for a player they signed from AC Milan for £55 million three years ago. With three years remaining on his contract, Newcastle are in a strong position to command a premium fee.
Arsenal and Manchester City are also monitoring Tonali's situation, and Hutton believes that if either club enters the race, it will be difficult for Tottenham to compete.
Hutton: Tonali Would Improve Spurs, but Competition is 'Troublesome'
Speaking to Betarades, Hutton praised Tonali's qualities: "He's like a silky Italian player that you used to see from years gone by. Everything comes very easy to him, his first touch is absolutely quality. Does he make Tottenham better? Yes I think he does."
However, Hutton expressed concerns about Tottenham's ability to secure the deal amid interest from bigger clubs. "The problem, I think, with Tottenham at this moment in time is that the seasons that they've had, they've not been a stable club. There's been a lot of turnover in terms of managers and everything going in the background. Daniel Levy stepping down. There's been a lot of noise and the fans are unhappy as well."
He added: "Because of everything that surrounds the club, when other big teams like Arsenal or whoever it may be are trying to get the same player, I think it's always going to be difficult for Tottenham. There's a lot of uncertainty that surrounds the club."
Spurs' Recent Success Not Enough to Attract Top Talent
Hutton noted that Tottenham's Europa League victory last season, their first trophy in a long period, has not been enough to propel the club forward. "Something needs to change. I know De Zerbi is capable of doing that but they need to get these big players in to help them out."
He concluded: "I think Tonali would be a great signing. Do I believe they can get it done? I'm 50-50 on that. If other big clubs are involved, I think it's troublesome."
