The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew examines the rising costs of Premier League midfielders and questions whether their quality matches that of past generations. The article highlights Enzo Fernández’s £125m move to Manchester City and Sandro Tonali’s big-money transfer as examples of the trend.
Source updates
Update (Foot Mercato): Foot Mercato reports that Enzo Le Fée has extended his contract with Sunderland. The midfielder joined the club permanently after initially arriving from Roma on loan in January 2025.
Update (Get French Football News): Get French Football News reports that Enzo Le Fée has officially renewed his Sunderland contract through 2031. The midfielder initially joined on loan from Roma before making the move permanent.
Update (Calciomercato.com): Calciomercato.com reports that Beppe Riso has revisited Sandro Tonali’s 2023 move from Milan to Newcastle during an appearance on the Colpi da Maestro podcast. The agent said there was a feeling that Milan had changed and no longer resembled the historic club he knew. Riso added that he and Tonali discussed a move to the Premier League as a challenge that appealed to the midfielder. He described Tonali’s decision to leave after winning the league title and becoming one of Milan’s key players as courageous and visionary. Riso also said Tonali initially struggled emotionally after the transfer, appearing sad during his first weeks before adapting and establishing himself.
Update (Get Italian Football News): Get Italian Football News reports that Sandro Tonali’s agent has explained why the midfielder joined Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window. Tottenham paid a club-record fee to complete the signing, making the move a significant investment for the English side. The report adds that Tonali has not made a strong start to the season since arriving in London. However, the transfer itself was presented as a clear indication of Tottenham’s commitment to the player. The available information does not include the agent’s specific explanation or the exact amount of the record fee.