Sardar Azmoun could join Jose Mourinho’s Roma on a free transfer after Tottenham Hotspur tried to lure the Zenit St Petersburg striker to the Premier League, as reported by Calciomercato.
If the Iranian international was disappointed to miss out on a summer move away from the Gazprom Arena, he is certainly channeling that frustration in the right way.
With six goals in seven games so far this season – and with a Player of the Month award under his belt – Azmoun looks determined to go out on a high at Zenit St Petersburg.
The £17 million poacher has lifted the Russian Premier League title in each of the last three seasons and, with Zenit already top of the table and moving through the gears, don’t bet against Azmoun adding a fourth winners’ medal to his already enviable collection before his contract expires in July 2022.
Is Azmoun destined to end up in Italy?
“I had offers from Lyon, Roma, Bayer and Tottenham. But all the proposals were rejected,” said Azmoun, who has also been linked with the likes of Wolves, Arsenal and Everton over the years.
“I never said I was leaving Zenit. When Lyon made the first offer, Zenit rejected it immediately.
“I have a contract. Even if I wanted to leave, the club will not allow it.”
Unless Azmoun extends his current deal, Zenit will be powerless to prevent the hottest striker in the country walking out the door ten months from now.
He is unlikely to be short of offers either, particularly if Tottenham finally bow down to Harry Kane’s demands – assuming the Spurs skipper still wants to join top-flight rivals Manchester City in 2022.
According to Calciomercato, Italian giants AC Milan and Roma are already weighing up approaches for a man who has scored 40 goals in his last two seasons.
For many Spurs supporters, the sight of Azmoun firing Jose Mourinho’s Roma into Scudetto contention will not be an easy one to swallow.
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