adminTottenham Hotspur have endured an eventful and unpredictable 12 months, with the club experiencing dramatic changes both on and off the pitch.
Thomas Frank was appointed just a year ago, but since then Spurs have already gone through two additional managerial changes. Igor Tudor’s spell in charge turned into a nightmare, with the club slipping dangerously close to the relegation zone and producing some of their poorest performances in recent memory.
Everything changed when Roberto De Zerbi arrived. The Italian manager steadied the ship, guided Tottenham away from serious trouble, and has now been handed significant backing in the transfer market. While the club’s spending has attracted plenty of attention, many supporters agree that the players brought in so far have strengthened the squad considerably.
One of De Zerbi’s first priorities was reinforcing the defence. Former Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke followed his former boss to north London, while Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have also joined the project as part of Tottenham’s rebuild.
Attention has now shifted to midfield, where Spurs are reportedly preparing two huge moves. Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, valued at around £100 million, and West Ham United youngster Mateus Fernandes, rated at approximately £85 million, are both believed to be major targets and could break the club’s transfer record.
Why Tottenham are targeting Tonali and Fernandes
Tottenham’s midfield was one of the biggest weaknesses throughout last season. Injuries certainly played a part, with James Maddison missing a significant portion of the campaign after suffering an ACL injury, but the overall balance and creativity of the engine room remained a concern.
The club attempted to solve those issues by signing Conor Gallagher during the winter transfer window. Despite arriving with high expectations and becoming one of Spurs’ top earners, the England international failed to make the desired impact.
Gallagher’s work ethic was never questioned, but Tottenham still lacked a midfielder capable of driving the team forward, breaking opposition lines, and progressing possession consistently. Similar limitations could also be seen in players such as Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, João Palhinha, and Archie Gray.
As a result, strengthening the midfield has become one of the club’s biggest priorities this summer.
Tonali has long been regarded as one of Europe’s elite midfielders. His agent, Beppe Riso, has even described him as “one of the best midfielders in the world,” and Newcastle’s reported £100 million valuation reflects just how highly he is rated.
At 26 years old, the Italian international is entering the peak years of his career, while 21-year-old Fernandes represents one of Europe’s brightest emerging talents.
The Portuguese midfielder has produced outstanding numbers across Europe’s top seven leagues during the 2025/26 season. He ranked among the very best for interceptions, possession recoveries, defensive duels won, and progressive passing, leading many observers to compare him with Declan Rice.
Signing both players would give De Zerbi a balanced midfield combining world-class experience with elite young potential.
What it could mean for Archie Gray
While those additions would undoubtedly strengthen Tottenham’s squad, they could create a difficult situation for one of the club’s most exciting young players.
Spurs deserve credit for investing heavily in talented youngsters over recent years. Alongside highly-rated defender Luka Vušković and Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray has been viewed as one of the club’s brightest long-term prospects.
After arriving from Leeds United in a £30 million deal, Gray has shown glimpses of his enormous potential, although consistency has proved difficult to find.
Part of that can be explained by his deployment. Although naturally a central midfielder, the 20-year-old has frequently been used at right-back for both Leeds and Tottenham, limiting his opportunities to settle into his preferred position.
Without a regular role in midfield, Gray has struggled to build momentum and establish himself as a key figure in the first team.
Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has previously described Gray as a future club captain, highlighting the youngster’s leadership qualities and long-term potential. However, the possible arrivals of Tonali and Fernandes would make that path significantly more complicated.
Even before those transfer links emerged, Gray was already finding minutes difficult to come by under De Zerbi. During the closing weeks of last season, he spent several important Premier League matches on the bench without making an appearance, including games against Wolves, Aston Villa, Leeds United, and Chelsea.
Those selections suggested De Zerbi was reluctant to rely on the England youth international during the most crucial stage of the campaign, raising fresh questions about his role going forward.
Previously compared to a young Declan Rice by football statistician Duncan Alexander, Gray remains a player with enormous ability and versatility. However, he has yet to fully deliver on that promise at Tottenham.
Should Spurs complete marquee deals for Tonali and Fernandes, competition for places would become even more intense. Unless Gray can force his way into De Zerbi’s plans, his hopes of becoming a regular starter—and eventually fulfilling predictions that he could captain the club—may become increasingly difficult to realise.
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