Newcastle reject Tottenham's £80m bid for Tonali as midfielder eyes Arsenal move

Newcastle United have rejected a bid from Tottenham Hotspur for midfielder Sandro Tonali worth about £80m, with the Italy international understood to prefer a move to Arsenal instead. The opening proposal was turned down earlier this week, BBC Sport reported, after Spurs manager Roberto de Zerbi – a long-time admirer of the 26-year-old – pushed for the signing. Newcastle are in a strong position to demand a fee closer to £100m, particularly as Manchester City and Arsenal monitor developments. Tonali is effectively contracted until 2030, having signed a new deal during his 10-month betting ban to repay the faith the club showed in him. The current market may work in Newcastle’s favour: Manchester City had a second bid worth about £120m rejected by Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson, while relegated West Ham want up to £80m for Mateus Fernandes. According to the Daily Mail, Tonali would rather join Arsenal, who have also made Aston Villa and England midfielder Morgan Rogers a top target this summer, according to Talksport. Tottenham’s approach for Tonali marks a shift for a club that has never spent more than the £65m deal for Dominic Solanke. They have already spent £52m on defender Jan Paul van Hecke and signed Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers. But the quick rejection by Newcastle shows it will take a great deal more to tempt them to cash in. Newcastle’s chief executive, David Hopkinson, had previously made it clear they will only trade players on “our terms”. In a week when Newcastle lost out to Liverpool in the race to sign Spain winger Victor Munoz, rejecting Spurs’ opening gambit signals they are not easily swayed.