Spurs' Tonali hunt shows chasm Newcastle must bridge

Spurs' Tonali hunt shows chasm Newcastle must bridgeImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali from AC Milan for £55m in 2023ByCiaran KellyNewcastle United reporterPublished2 minutes agoCommentsAston Villa's 2024-25 end-of-season awards dinner was in full swing when Damian Vidagany took to the stage.Villa's director of football operations had a message for Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur."There is no big six anymore," he declared to loud cheers little more than 12 months ago.Such a sentiment will have plenty of support on Tyneside.Just as Aston Villa disrupted the established order to qualify for the Champions League in 2024 and 2026, so too did Newcastle United in 2023 and 2025.Yet the league's highest-earning clubs have hardly withered in the face of the challenge from outside the six, and Spurs' pursuit of Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali is a reminder of that.Just weeks after Roberto de Zerbi's side narrowly avoided relegation on the final day, they are trying to lure one of Newcastle's best players to North London.'Very difficult to attract players we wanted'Newcastle hardly had a stellar season themselves - finishing a disappointing 12th place - but the difference is Spurs have greater revenues to fall back on as they try to bounce back come August.Spurs' most recent financial accounts showed they generated £230m more in income than Newcastle in 2024-25.As a result, Spurs could offer far superior wages to Tonali and make a meaty bid of about £80m for the Italy midfielder - yet stay within the game's financial rules.That bid was unsuccessful and although Manchester City and Arsenal have yet to come to the table, Newcastle will be in a strong position to command a bigger fee if several teams make offers.However, if Tonali does go, Newcastle will have lost three of their four best players in the space of a ye...