Tottenham Hotspur have just nine games left this season – and that means a mandatory deal for goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini is no longer possible.
Tottenham beat West Ham United 3-1 on Sunday afternoon, keeping their hopes of a top-four finish alive.
Antonio Conte has now claimed four wins in the last five Premier League games and there looks to be a bright future on the horizon in North London.
That future may not include goalkeeper Gollini though, who was an unused substitute against West Ham.
When Tottenham signed Gollini on loan from Atalanta last summer, Sky Sports reported that the deal would become permanent once he played 20 games.
That would have cost Tottenham £13million, with no escape for Spurs should that 20-game target be hit.
Gollini has only played 10 times for Tottenham, and with just nine games of the season left – with Tottenham in no other competitions – that mandatory clause can’t be activated.
Even if Hugo Lloris picks up an injury and Gollini starts for the rest of the season, that would still only take him to 19.
Gollini hasn’t played at all in the Premier League, with his appearances coming across various cup competitions.
Tottenham could still try to keep Gollini despite not hitting the 20 games, but that seems very unlikely.
talkSPORT reported in December that Conte isn’t convinced by Gollini and could sign West Bromwich Albion’s Sam Johnstone.
Tuttomercatoweb add that Lazio have already started talks with Gollini’s representatives to try and set up a summer deal.
That seems much more likely than Gollini staying at Tottenham, as not even playing 20 games says a lot.
Even in cup games against Brighton, Middlesbrough and West Ham, Gollini wasn’t galled upon. When given a chance against Chelsea in January, Gollini struggled.
This looks to be the end for Gollini at Tottenham with just a few more games to go until his loan deal comes to a rather predictable end.
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