Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a huge move for Sandro Tonali as the club looks to reshape their midfield ahead of next season, and we have now compared his underlying numbers with those of Tottenham’s midfielder from last season.
Spurs Web has relayed reports surrounding Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Tonali as the Lilywhites continue searching for extra quality and depth in the middle of the park.
It is understood that any move for the Newcastle United midfielder would see Spurs smash their current transfer record, with the Italy international viewed as the club’s marquee signing should an agreement be reached.
Tonali himself is believed to be open to the move despite interest from Arsenal and Manchester City, which only underlines the level Tottenham would be dealing with if they push ahead with negotiations.
Tottenham midfield numbers show why Sandro Tonali is such an attractive option
Tottenham do need extra depth in midfield, particularly with Yves Bissouma now a free agent and Joao Palhinha set to return to Bayern Munich following his loan spell.
That leaves Spurs with James Maddison, Xavi Simons, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Conor Gallagher and Rodrigo Bentancur as the club’s primary midfield options heading into the new campaign.
Should Tonali arrive, though, he would likely operate as either a central midfielder or a deeper defensive midfielder given the all-around nature of his game.
The numbers certainly suggest he would immediately raise the floor of Tottenham’s midfield unit.
Tonali’s profile stands out immediately because he offers balance across almost every category rather than specialising in just one area.
Palhinha dominates defensively, while Sarr ranks strongly for possession recoveries and forward passing, but Tonali combines progressive carrying, chance creation, forward passing and defensive work at a far more complete level.
Bentancur, however, is still Spurs’ most composed midfielder in tight spaces and remains reliable defensively, but Tonali is far more aggressive with his ball progression and attacking distribution.
The Newcastle United man also creates considerably more chances while carrying greater athletic intensity off the ball.
Gray and Bergvall remain long-term projects with enormous potential, although the data highlights their inconsistency physically compared to Tonali.
Bergvall’s carrying numbers are excellent, but the teenager is still raw defensively, while Gray’s all-round game still lacks the authority and final-third impact Tonali already brings consistently at the elite level.
| Player | Duel % | Possession won | Progressive carries | Forward passes | Forward pass % | Key passes | Progressive passes | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandro Tonali | 74.5 | 46.8 | 68.1 | 73.1 | 37.3 | 48.4 | 67.6 | 2821 |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | 53.3 | 72.4 | 5.6 | 42.6 | 26.2 | 21.5 | 17.8 | 2077 |
| Pape Matar Sarr | 32.9 | 80.5 | 50.2 | 37.3 | 78.2 | 39.4 | 21.8 | 1613 |
| Archie Gray | 11.3 | 26.4 | 44.9 | 39.8 | 44.0 | 39.4 | 37.0 | 1673 |
| Lucas Bergvall | 6.3 | 19.5 | 72.5 | 6.9 | 16.7 | 29.0 | 5.3 | 1085 |
| Conor Gallagher | 14.8 | 62.1 | 16.9 | 30.3 | 50.5 | 62.0 | 36.1 | 1328 |
| Joao Palhinha | 81.9 | 96.5 | 2.3 | 46.5 | 36.6 | 7.4 | 38.2 | 2486 |
Spurs would gain control, intensity and progression with Tonali
Tonali’s underlying numbers also show why Tottenham view him as a midfielder capable of transforming the overall structure of the side rather than simply adding depth.
| Player | Successful passes | Pass success % | Accurate long balls | Chances created | Defensive contributions | Tackles | Interceptions | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandro Tonali | 1,319 | 84.4% | 71 | 32 | 257 | 35 | 31 | 0 | 2 |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | 873 | 85.8% | 19 | 10 | 276 | 56 | 35 | 1 | 1 |
| Pape Matar Sarr | 538 | 85.0% | 20 | 11 | 185 | 33 | 18 | 2 | 4 |
| Archie Gray | 448 | 83.1% | 21 | 8 | 133 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 2 |
| Lucas Bergvall | 249 | 81.6% | 10 | 5 | 78 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Conor Gallagher | 444 | 84.7% | 20 | 13 | 124 | 23 | 18 | 1 | 1 |
| Joao Palhinha | 856 | 82.0% | 41 | 8 | 302 | 110 | 30 | 5 | 2 |
What stands out most is Tonali’s ability to dictate games while still contributing heavily without the ball. His passing volume dwarfs every Tottenham midfielder listed, while his long-range distribution would immediately give Spurs another method of progressing attacks quickly.
Palhinha remains the superior ball-winner, but Tonali offers far more creatively and athletically in possession. That balance is likely why Tottenham are willing to commit such a huge fee.
Sarr’s energy and vertical running would probably complement Tonali extremely well, while Bentancur could benefit from playing alongside a midfielder capable of carrying progression duties more aggressively.
In turn, Gray and Bergvall would develop without being forced into major responsibility too early.
The biggest improvement Spurs would gain is control in transition. Tonali is capable of recovering possession, progressing play quickly and sustaining attacking pressure without sacrificing defensive structure.
Tottenham have lacked that complete midfield profile for years, and it is easy to see why the club believe he could become the centrepiece of their rebuild if a deal can be completed.