Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed plenty of success in one market in particular of late.
Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie – brought in last summer from Empoli and Udinese – were both big successes, barring the odd defensive blunder, under Ange Postecoglou.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski are important squad players themselves too in North London, while Radu Dragusin‘s oustanding Euro 2024 display for Romania against Ukraine suggests that next season could be a pretty big one for the £26 million centre-half.
It should come as no real surprise, then, to learn that Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of further additions is taking them back to a league which they obviously feel offers both potential and value.
HITC understands there is interest in the highly-rated Fiorentina right-back Michael Kayode. Tottenham have also asked to be kept abreast of the Dean Huijsen situation; the Juventus defender who may yet be offered to Aston Villa as part of that Douglas Luiz deal.
And then there is Albert Gudmundsson.
Tottenham Hotspur linked iwth Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson
A forward who arrived at Genoa back in 2022 very much as a work in progress but has blossomed to such an extent in Luguria that he now has ‘some of the biggest clubs’ both inside and outside of Europe fluttering their eyelashes in his direction.
“We are very satisfied of our first season in Serie A. On the pitch we achieved excellent results and played very attractive football,” Genoa’s CEO Andres Blasquez says, via Calciomercato. “Albert showed his ability and proved that he is one of the best forwards in this league.
“So it is not surprising that some of the biggest clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia are interested in him.”
Gudmundsson, a late-blooming Iceland international, finished 2023/24 with 16 goals and five assists in all competitions. Versatile, technical and a superb set-piece taker, Blasquez said recently that anyone looking to take the 27-year-old away from Girona would have to part with 40 million euros.
Or, if you like, £34 million.
Serie A star likened to Mo Salah
A not-inconsiderable sum, but a potential bargain considering the sums other clubs demand for attackers with fewer goals to their name. Aston Villa have also been linked. And with HITC having been told that Athletic Bilbao speedster Nico Williams prefers a move to Barcelona over Villa Park, Gudmundsson may yet find himself rising up Unai Emery’s wishlist.
Kevin Strootman, the Genoa midfielder, watched on in awe as Mo Salah evolved into one of the planet’s finest goalscorers at Roma. And he sees no reason why Gudmundsson cannot embark upon a similar transformation.
“I said that Salah didn’t always score goals at Roma, despite being clear on goal (in one-v-one situations) four or five times per game,” Strootman tells Radio TV Serie A.
“Others said that, if he did score every time he was clear, then he would be at Real Madrid or Liverpool rather than Roma. And that is where he ended up.
“If Gud can make the same leap, I think he can do well at a super top club. He must do it to become a world-class player because his quality is already beyond doubt. He is a serious professional and I am sure he’ll do even better over the next few years.”
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