Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as serious contenders for Sandro Tonali, but there may be more going on behind the scenes than first meets the eye.Tottenham supporters are still trying to process the possibility of Sandro Tonali arriving in North London this summer. The Newcastle United midfielder has quickly emerged as one of Spurs’ priority targets, with multiple reports claiming the Italy international is open to working under Roberto De Zerbi.Even if that is the case, Tottenham would still need to break their transfer record by a considerable margin to land him. The current benchmark remains the £65 million spent on Dominic Solanke last summer, while Newcastle are believed to value Tonali at well over £100 million.Whether Spurs are willing to meet that valuation remains to be seen, but this is expected to be a summer of significant investment after repeated assurances from the club hierarchy that De Zerbi will be backed in the market.However, Tottenham are not alone in the race, with two Premier League rivals continuing to hover in the background.Photo by Newcastle United/Newcastle United via Getty ImagesAre Tottenham being used to force Arsenal and Manchester City into action?According to The Telegraph, there is a growing belief inside football that Tottenham’s interest in Tonali could have an impact beyond simply trying to sign the player.The report explains that Arsenal and Manchester City have long been viewed as the two most attractive Premier League destinations for the Newcastle midfielder. Arsenal, in particular, have been regarded within St James’ Park as the club most likely to make a serious move ever since links first emerged earlier this year in January.Despite Tottenham’s entry into the race, Newcastle’s internal expectation reportedly remains that Arsenal are the strongest contenders should a bidding war develop.The Telegraph also suggests there is suspicion that leaking Spurs’ interest may well be designed to help accelerate matters elsewhere; encouraging Arsenal to finally make their move after months of speculation.Manchester City are another club keeping tabs on the situation, although Enzo Maresca’s side are currently prioritising Elliot Anderson and it remains unclear whether they would commit to another blockbuster signing in the same window.Newcastle United determined not to repeat mistakes of the pastWhile Fabrizio Romano has described Newcastle as a club that is “never easy to strike a deal with”, Tottenham remain determined to sign Tonali.The Telegraph reports that Newcastle feel they are negotiating from a position of strength. Tonali still has three years remaining on his contract, with an option to further extend that by 12 months, giving the Magpies little reason to rush into a sale unless their £100 million valuation is fully met.The club have already made that stance clear to the player’s representatives and are prepared to remain patient while monitoring developments.There is also a feeling that Newcastle have become far more pragmatic when dealing with transfer situations involving star players. Last summer’s lengthy Alexander Isak saga proved a valuable lesson, with the club eventually sanctioning a record-breaking sale only after it became obvious the striker’s future lay elsewhere.As a result, Newcastle appear willing to listen to offers for Tonali if the numbers are right, but they are equally prepared to keep him if those demands are not met.READ MORE: ‘Here we go’ – Tottenham agree deal for third summer signing at £52m fixed feeThe post Tottenham face Sandro Tonali worry: Some think Spurs are being used to influence Arsenal appeared first on Spurs Web.