Inter Milan are supposedly closing in on a deal for the Roma man, suggesting the Italians have given up on signing the Tottenham Hotspur player.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele looked set to depart north London this summer, with Inter Milan being touted as favourites to land his signature, according to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport.
However, the Serie A giants have allegedly entered negotiations that suggest immediate interest in Dembele has finished
Inter are said to be keen on signing Dembele’s countryman Raja Nainggolan from Roma, with the player interested in the prospect of teaming up with former manager Luciano Spalleti at the San Siro, according to Corriere Dello Sport, indicating that they may have moved on from the Tottenham man.
Both players operate in similar roles in midfield and, after lengthy negotiations, it appears the Italians have decided to look elsewhere.
Under normal circumstances Tottenham would not even entertain the notion of Dembele leaving, but the player is said to have expressed concerns over his ability to keep up with the intense physical demands of the Premier League, as he approaches the latter stages of his career (the Telegraph).
The 30-year-old’s impact is slowly diminishing, and he missed a number of games due to persistent injuries, making 28 league appearances overall last campaign.
Inter were reported to have offered Joao Mario as a make-weight in an attempt to sign the Tottenham man earlier this month (Tuttosport), but it appears Pochettino opted against the idea, as Mario offered little with West Ham to suggest he could fill the void.
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