Sandro Tonali's massive Spurs move has everyone losing their minds

Pour yourself something strong and pull up a chair, because Tottenham Hotspur have officially lost their minds. We knew the North London club was planning a summer facelift after Roberto De Zerbi somehow dragged them back from the edge of Championship relegation last season. But nobody expected Daniel Levy to morph into peak Roman Abramovich, wielding ENIC's checkbook like a sledgehammer.

First, they quietly swept up Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Martin Dubravka on free transfers to patch up a leaking defense. Then, they handed Brighton a cool £52million for Jan Paul van Hecke. Apparently, that was just the appetizer before the main course of absolute transfer market chaos.

Daniel Levy's Record-Breaking Statement

Spurs went out and smashed their transfer record twice in the span of a few days. First, they dropped £85m to snatch Mateus Fernandes from West Ham. Before the ink on that contract could even dry, they went and did the unthinkable.

They secured the services of Italy international Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for a mind-boggling £100million fee. It is a deal that has sent shockwaves through the Premier League and left pundits screaming into microphones. Predictably, the talkSPORT studio has already erupted into full-blown theater over the move.

The talkSPORT Meltdown

During his first official interview, Tonali tried to play the classic PR game. He claimed he could not wait to play in the North London stadium, citing the great atmosphere he experienced there with AC Milan and Newcastle. Host Jeff Stelling immediately cut through the noise, dryly pointing out that Tonali could have done that anyway as a Newcastle player.

Then came former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor, who essentially tried to rip the microphone out of the stand. Agbonlahor scoffed at the idea of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having any sort of noise. He recounted his trip to the venue last season when Villa came to town, calling it the quietest stadium he had ever visited.

Agbonlahor did not stop there, accusing Tonali of moving purely for the pay packet. As Football365 reported, the pundit was absolutely ruthless about the decision.

According to Agbonlahor, leaving a project like Newcastle for Spurs is a crazy decision. He also took aim at Tottenham's other new recruits, claiming Robertson and Senesi only signed on free transfers for the money. To be fair, Agbonlahor did admit that playing under De Zerbi has some pull, but insisted the money was the real driver.

Atmosphere? Do me a favour! Don’t make me laugh. I went to the game last season, Spurs against Aston Villa. The quietest stadium I’ve probably ever been to. Zero atmosphere. You’ve gone for the big bucks; you’ve gone for the money that Newcastle probably wouldn’t give you. To leave Newcastle to go to Spurs is a crazy decision. Let’s just call it as it is.

Whether Agbonlahor is right or just playing to the radio crowd, the reality is that Spurs now top the five-year net spend table. They are gambling heavily on De Zerbi's tactical system to bring back Champions League football. But the Italian tactician is far from finished with his shopping spree.

De Zerbi's Italian Job

De Zerbi is now pushing for a triple offensive reinforcement to complete his rebuild. The left-wing slot has been a massive headache ever since club legend Son Heung-min departed last summer. Now, Spurs are moving fast to fill that void with one of the most exciting wingers in Europe.

Reports from Sempre Milan suggest that AC Milan star Rafael Leao is ready to say yes to Tottenham. The Portuguese international is reportedly keen on playing in the Premier League next season. Best of all, the chance to reunite with his former Milan teammate Tonali is acting as a major selling point.

Milan have reportedly dropped their initial price demands for the winger to around €50m, which translates to a very tempting £43m. If ENIC agrees to foot the bill, this transfer could progress incredibly quickly. Spurs fans are already salivating at the prospect of Leao and Tonali tearing up defenses together again.

Of course, this potential deal is causing plenty of discussion among the Milan faithful. Some Italian fans are jokingly viewing this as payback for Milan signing Emerson Royal from Spurs. Given Emerson's chaotic performances in Italy, they might have a point about owing Spurs a favor.

In addition to Leao, De Zerbi is chasing Croatia's highly-rated playmaker Martin Baturina. The Como midfielder made a name for himself by scoring a brilliant goal against England at the World Cup. However, Como's hierarchy is proving to be a tough negotiating partner.

Como have already rejected a £47m bid from an unnamed Premier League club. They have issued a clear warning to all suitors, stating they will only sell if someone offers €80m. Spurs must now decide if they want to pay that hefty fee or look elsewhere.

The final piece of De Zerbi's puzzle is a new striker. According to TEAMtalk, Spurs are preparing a £75m bid for Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi. The 20-year-old forward is highly coveted, with Arsenal and Chelsea also monitoring his progress.

Bournemouth are currently insisting that their young star is not for sale at any price. However, Spurs believe that the chance to play under De Zerbi could convince the player to push for the move. If Spurs manage to secure Baturina, Kroupi, and Leao, the total cost of this triple deal will reach £186m.

Panic and Rejections at Old Trafford

While Spurs are throwing cash around like Monopoly money, the mood over at Old Trafford is decidedly bleak. Manchester United have had a nightmare of a transfer window so far. They watched helplessly as both Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali slipped through their fingers to join Spurs.

As Metro UK detailed, United are now desperately scanning the market for midfield alternatives. They did manage to wrap up a £35m deal for Atalanta's Ederson earlier this summer. However, they still need another top-class midfielder to anchor their engine room.

United held talks with Chelsea regarding Andrey Santos, but hit a brick wall immediately. Chelsea are demanding £50m for the Brazilian, a figure United are unwilling to meet. They also asked about Bournemouth's Alex Scott, only to be told the 22-year-old is strictly off-limits.

This string of rejections has forced United to look toward Spain for a potential marquee signing. Their primary target is now Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni. The 26-year-old French international is highly regarded, but his future in Madrid is suddenly up in the air.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is planning a massive squad overhaul this summer. To fund his new signings, the Spanish giants are understood to be open to a major sale. Tchouameni, who has two years left on his contract, could be the player sacrificed.

United are ready to launch an official bid the moment Real Madrid put him on the market. Whether they can pull this off is anybody's guess, but they desperately need a win to salvage their summer. Right now, they are looking like the kid left outside the party while Spurs dance inside.