The North East is ready for war. After watching their midfield talisman, Sandro Tonali, leave St James’ Park for Tottenham in a record-shattering £100 million deal, Newcastle United are officially out for vengeance. In a bold “revenge mission” that is sending shockwaves through the Premier League, Eddie Howe has set his sights on a stunning £90 million double raid on the very club that poached their star man.
Newcastle’s hierarchy, still smarting from the loss of Tonali—who reportedly cited the opportunity to work under Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi as the deciding factor—is now aiming to strip two top-tier assets from Tottenham’s roster. The targets? Midfield playmaker Lucas Bergvall and the breakout star of the World Cup, English full-back Djed Spence.
The Battle for Bergvall
The pursuit of Lucas Bergvall is fast becoming the soap opera of the summer. While Nottingham Forest recently saw a £38 million bid for the Swede laughed out of the room, Tottenham is holding firm on a valuation closer to £50 million. Despite the high price tag, Spurs appear ready to part ways with the midfielder; after De Zerbi bolstered the squad with both Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, Bergvall has found himself surplus to requirements in North London.
For Newcastle, this is an opportunity they cannot afford to miss. With the club dealing with a thin midfield following the departures of Tonali and the uncertainty surrounding skipper Bruno Guimaraes, Eddie Howe needs immediate reinforcements. While Newcastle recently secured 18-year-old Ajax prodigy Sean Steur, the experience and Premier League potential Bergvall offers make him a priority. If the Magpies can beat Forest to the punch, they won’t just be filling a void—they’ll be reclaiming their status as a destination for the league’s most exciting young talent.
Djed Spence: The £40 Million Man
If the pursuit of Bergvall is ambitious, the move for Djed Spence is purely tactical. The 25-year-old fullback was arguably England’s surprise package during their stunning World Cup run, which culminated in a wild 6-4 victory over France. Before the tournament, Spurs were hoping to recoup around £25 million for the versatile defender. Today? That price has rocketed toward the £40 million mark.
Newcastle’s need for defensive cover is critical. With Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, and Matt Targett all moving on, Howe is left with Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall as his only reliable options. With the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United all sniffing around his current fullbacks, Howe cannot afford to wait. Spence’s ability to operate on both the left and right flanks makes him a “Swiss Army knife” defender—exactly the kind of player Howe needs to mount a serious top-four challenge.
£90 Million: A Booming Business for Spurs?
For Tottenham, this proposed double deal would be a masterclass in modern football economics. They would effectively be offloading two players who aren’t in De Zerbi’s primary starting plans and using the cash to subsidize their own aggressive recruitment. For Newcastle, however, the price is secondary. Eddie Howe is betting that paying a premium—an estimated £90 million for the pair—will provide the necessary tactical “teeth” to prevent the squad from sliding into mediocrity.
The transfer market is a game of leverage, and right now, Tottenham is holding all the cards. But Newcastle’s move is a desperate, necessary play to regain the initiative. As the deadline approaches, the tension between St James’ Park and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is at an all-time high. Will this double-raid succeed, or will the Magpies be left empty-handed as their rivals continue to build a potential title-challenging squad?
Newcastle Fans: Is spending £90m on Bergvall and Spence the right move to replace the void left by Tonali, or should Eddie Howe be hunting for more proven, established stars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
