Fans are totally confused by Tottenham’s new offer for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Instead of offering more money for Sandro Tonali, Tottenham reportedly just asked Newcastle United to “reconsider” their first bid—a move fans found pretty funny.
Roberto De Zerbi is said to be a big fan of Tonali, who’s also attracting interest from several clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal. The 26-year-old midfielder is looking at his options ahead of the new season and is even open to moving to London after three seasons with Newcastle, according to the Mail.
Tottenham really want to get a deal done. After some good talks with Tonali’s camp, they made a £75 million offer last week, but Newcastle turned it down. Newcastle thinks around £100 million would be fair for the player.
Instead of raising their offer, Tottenham tried their luck by asking Newcastle to think again about the original bid. As you might guess, Newcastle said no once more.
Fans had plenty to say about Tottenham’s unusual move on social media. One wrote, “Wait, they just offered the same amount and expected a different answer?” Another joked, “This might be the funniest transfer story all summer.” Others said things like, “Spurs think they’re selling on Vinted,” and “Not improving the offer but asking them to reconsider is hilarious.” One more added, “No wonder people call us ‘Spursy’—always a joke.”
Arsenal’s long-term interest in Tonali is well-known. They looked into a possible deal back in January, and while nothing solid has come from the Gunners this summer, Tonali would like to join them. The Mail says Arsenal is his preferred choice if they decide to move forward.
Meanwhile, former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer isn’t sure joining Tottenham would be the best move for Tonali. “Tottenham just barely avoided relegation,” he said. “I get the appeal of London, but going to Spurs, who’ve done so badly the past two years, would be a surprising step for Tonali.
“But if Tonali wants to leave Newcastle, you set the price high, wait for someone to pay, then say thanks and move on. If the price is around £100 million, that’s a good deal.”
Shearer added, “Spurs have a new manager, which might attract him, and London is a draw too. But look at where Spurs finished the last couple of years.”