According to a report from 90min, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur had scouts in attendance when AC Milan were up against AS Roma at the weekend. And Sandro Tonali was reportedly one of the players they were keeping tabs on.
It remains to be seen whether Tottenham and Chelsea decide to come forward with a concrete proposal for the 22-year-old Italian international at the end of the season. Both clubs need to add more quality and depth in the central midfield. And Tonali would be a superb, long-term investment for them.
The Italian international has the potential to develop into a top-class player and he could be tempted to move to the Premier League in the coming seasons. He has been linked with Arsenal in the past.
Chelsea might lose N’Golo Kante on a free transfer this summer. The Frenchman has not signed a new contract with the club and his deal will expire in the coming months. Tonali could prove to be a quality long-term replacement for the Chelsea fan favourite.
On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur have not been able to rotate key midfielders like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur this season because of the lack of depth in their squad. Signing a quality material would like Tonali will allow their new manager to shuffle his options and keep the players fresh.
AC Milan will want to hold on to their prized prospect for as long as possible. So they are unlikely to want to sell him this summer. Meanwhile, the Italian midfielder has a market value of €50 million, so he will not come cheap.
Both Chelsea and Tottenham will have to come forward with a lucrative offer in order to change their stance. The Blues certainly have the financial resources to beat Tottenham to the midfielder’s signature. But they are unlikely to qualify for European football next season, and that could be a damaging blow.
On the other hand, Tottenham are currently sixth in the league table and they are likely to secure European football even if they miss out on the Champions League. Tonali is a highly talented player and he could look to prefer a club with European football, where he can showcase his qualities at the highest level.
