Why Tottenham’s “future captain” will suffer if Tonali & Fernandes sign

It is safe to say the the last year has been a total rollercoaster at Tottenham Hotspur.

Thomas Frank was hired a year ago and since then, they have had two more managers. The Igor Tudor era was a complete disaster, one that very nearly ended in relegation.

However, Roberto De Zerbi answered Spurs’ call and rescued them from the unthinkable. He has now been given the freedom to go rather crazy in the transfer market but very few can deny the quality of the signings so far.

Once of Brighton and Hove Albion, defender Jan Paul van Hecke is very much a signing of the Italian’s making, but he has also helped bring the likes of Marcos Senesi and Andy Roberton to north London.

Next on the agenda is to really make a splash in the transfer market. £100m-rated Sandro Tonali and £85m-rated Mateus Fernandes could shatter the club’s transfer record to sign.

Why Spurs want to sign Tonali and Fernandes

Last season there were plenty of issues at Spurs but the one dimensional nature of the midfield was a huge hindrance, particularly with James Maddison cruelly robbed of many minutes due to tearing his ACL.

Tudor and Co did try to fix things with the winter addition of Conor Gallagher. However, despite being made the club’s highest earner, he really did not set the world alight.

Like the vast majority of Tottenham’s midfielders, he lacked the ability to progress the play. While you can never doubt Gallagher’s commitment to the cause, he lacked pace, he lacked drive and he lacked the ability to advance the ball between the lines.

The same can be said for his colleagues in the shape of Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Joao Palhinha and Archie Gray.

Therefore, it has been identified as a big weakness heading into the summer window. It explains links to Newcastle’s Tonali and West Ham’s Fernandes.

The former has long been viewed as an elite player in the engine room, notably hailed by his agent Beppe Riso as “one of the best midifelders in the world”. With a £100m asking price, it is hard to dispute that claim.

Aged 26, the Italian is reaching his prime while Fernandes, aged 21, is a mere spring chicken in comparison. By acquiring them both, Spurs would become remarkably well balanced.

Compared to midfielders aged 21 or under in Europe’s top seven leagues throughout 2025/26, Fernandes sat first for interceptions, possession won and defensive duels won while ranking second for progressive passes completed. There is a reason he has already been compared to Declan Rice.

That said, despite their potential arrivals, it would not represent good news for one of Tottenham’s brightest talents.

What Tonali and Fernandes moves would mean for Spurs’ future captain

There isn’t a lot that Spurs have got right in the transfer market in recent years but to their credit, they have done well when it comes to acquiring the top young talents in Europe.

Across recent years, the Lilywhites have secured the signings of Luka Vuskovic, one of the best up and coming centre-backs around while they have two of the most promising midfielders around in Lucas Bergvall and Gray too.

Since signing from Leeds in a deal worth £30m, the Englishman has threatened to showcase that he has elite potential but he has simply been too inconsistent.

That said, there are a few reasons for that. While the 20-year-old played regularly at right-back for Leeds and has played there for Tottenham too, he is a midfielder by trade and simply hasn’t played there often enough.

As a result of that, Gray has struggled to ever really build momentum in a Spurs shirt. That’s not stopped a certain Harry Redknapp from outling the talented youngster as a “future captain” of the club but sadly, that looks as though it will never come to fruition if Tonali and Fernandes sign.

The former Leeds man was already in danger before those links. Indeed, after De Zerbi’s arrival, Gray barely kicked a ball.

The England youth international was an unused sub in four of the last five leagues games, not playing a single minute against Wolves, Aston Villa, Leeds and Chelsea. Evidently not trusted by De Zerbi at the most pressurised moment of the season, one has to wonder what is next for Gray.

Once celebrated as a player who is like a “a young Declan Rice” by The Athletic’s Duncan Alexander, sadly he has really struggled to kick on.

Gray’s versatility is no doubt a huge boon to any manager but he is failing to live up to the hype and it’s evident De Zerbi does not fancy him as much.

He was struggling for game time at the business stage of the season and things will not come any easier if two marquee signings are made in midfield. It feels extreme but any hopes he had of becoming a first ream regular look finished.