Club-record signing Sandro Tonali is yet to produce his best in a Tottenham shirt.
Sandro Tonali was one of the marquee signings made by Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. The central midfielder cost a club-record £100million from Newcastle United, and has started all three Premier League games this season.
He’s played the full 90 minutes in two of those, with Spurs only picking up a single point against Nottingham Forest. The expectations on the Italian international are huge, given that he is the North London club’s first-ever £100m player. Sandro Tonali was thus expected to hit the ground running when he arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the midfielder has fallen short in each of the three games he has featured in.
The 26-year-old royally struggled with the pace and physicality against Brentford in the 3-0 defeat on the opening weekend. The 2-0 loss against his former employers wasn’t a pleasant experience for Tonali, who was jeered and booed by the travelling Newcastle contingent every time he touched the ball. The Italian put in an improved display against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last weekend, demonstrating that he’s gradually getting back to his peak fitness levels.
Liverpool legend gives damning assessment of Sandro Tonali
Tottenham enjoyed a historic summer transfer window, bringing in as many as 10 players to bounce back from an embarrassing last season. All of the new signings have already begun to settle in, with Tonali one of those managing minutes under head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has now given his assessment of Spurs’ record signing. The Scot is far from impressed with what he has seen so far from Tonali at White Hart Lane and has questioned whether he is worth the £100 million fee, calling the Italian a “steady eddy”.
“Tonali – is he a £100 million footballer? It is not the boy’s fault. I think he is an ordinary Joe. I think he is very steady; he will give you what he has got in terms of effort, quite aggressive, good athlete, not great on the ball, not great at seeing a cute and clever pass. Again, I think he is a £100 million footballer? I describe him as a steady eddy,” Graeme Souness said on the Graeme Souness Tackles podcast.
Tonali expected to start vs. Everton
Spurs welcome Everton on Saturday as they search for their first win of the Premier League season. De Zerbi is already feeling the pressure after an underwhelming start to the season, and he will view the visit of Everton as a great opportunity to guide the Lilywhites to three points.
Tonali has a point to prove. The Italian international has certainly not lived up to the immediate expectations of the N17 faithful, and that is something De Zerbi has even acknowledged in his earlier presser. He is expected to make his fourth straight start with the aim of helping the North Londoners register their first win of the campaign.
