Tottenham are in the middle of their most ambitious summer rebuild in years, with Roberto De Zerbi driving a spending spree that has already shattered the club's transfer record twice over. The £85 million signing of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, confirmed earlier this week, was barely announced before it was overshadowed by the £100 million arrival of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. The Italian international, who snubbed Manchester City to move to north London, cited De Zerbi's personal influence as the decisive factor, a clear sign that the manager carries real weight in the transfer market.

The Tonali deal makes him the most expensive Italian player in history and signals serious intent from a club that finished 17th in the Premier League last season, just four points above the relegation zone. That context gives the summer activity real urgency. De Zerbi needs quality and depth across the squad, and the midfield has been the clear priority so far.

On the outgoing side, Tottenham have sold teenage defender Luka Vuskovic to Brighton for £50 million while opting against triggering the purchase option on loan midfielder Joao Palhinha, who returns to Bayern Munich. Djed Spence has also attracted interest from Everton, with the full-back seeking regular first-team football.

With a pre-season friendly against Milton Keynes Dons scheduled for late July, the focus remains firmly on completing the squad before the new campaign begins.