On the pitch, there are positions whose value cannot be fully reflected through statistics. Central midfielders are one of them, and Sandro Tonali is a typical example.
Therefore, it would be unfair to just look at basic figures to conclude that last season was not his most successful period at Newcastle United. However, these numbers are being used to prove the opposite.
Tonali has not scored any goals in the Premier League and has only two assists. He received four yellow cards. Newcastle finished the season in 12th place with only 14 wins after 38 rounds.
No one denies Tonali's class. 3 years ago, Newcastle spent more than 55 million pounds to bring him back from AC Milan. It is completely understandable that coach Eddie Howe and the club's leadership want to keep the Italian midfielder.
Newcastle has placed great faith in Tonali, especially during the period when he had to serve a 10-month ban for violating betting regulations. Therefore, it is normal for them to refuse the first offers for this player during the negotiation process.
However, when Newcastle valued Tonali at 80 million pounds, Tottenham clearly did not have no reason to consider. And if the St James' Park team really requests, even receives 100 million pounds for the 26-year-old player, that will be proof that the Premier League transfer market is being pushed to an unprecedentedly unreasonable level.
To protect that valuation, Newcastle can cite Elliot Anderson's case. In the summer of 2024, they sold this midfielder to Nottingham Forest for £35 million. 2 years later, Anderson is said to be about to join Manchester City in a deal that could reach £130 million.
In two seasons wearing the Forest shirt, Anderson scored 6 goals and had 10 assists in the Premier League. He became an important factor in the England national team and proved his ability. However, he was also part of the Nottingham Forest team that only finished in 16th place last season.
Similarly, central midfielders rich in energy and tackling ability are being hunted more than ever. Mateus Fernandes is likely to leave West Ham after this team is relegated to the Championship, just one year after moving from Southampton for 38 million pounds.
Currently, Fernandes's value is said to have increased to about 80 million pounds. That is an incredible increase for a player who has just spent two consecutive seasons in the colors of relegation teams.
Another example is Jan Paul van Hecke. The Dutch center-back impressed in the Netherlands' 5-1 victory over Sweden at the World Cup, but when there was only one year left on his contract with Brighton, Tottenham was still willing to spend more than 50 million pounds to pursue him.
The Germans have a concept called "stupid British money" to describe unreasonable spending in the transfer market. And this summer seems to be reflecting that more clearly than ever.
In the opposite direction, Marcus Rashford is becoming an exception. Manchester United is said to be willing to accept a price of about 40 million pounds from another Premier League team, as long as it is not Liverpool or Manchester City.
In the context of the value of many players being pushed to an unbelievable level, that number for Rashford surprised many people. Especially in the context that Barcelona once did not activate a buyout clause worth 26 million pounds.
If the rumored prices for Tonali, Anderson or Fernandes really become reality, this summer transfer window may witness a huge wave of spending, far exceeding what the Premier League has ever experienced.
