Nottingham Forest target wants Tottenham move, but £18m deal difficult

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Nottingham Forest target Ruslan Malinovskyi wants to leave Atalanta for Tottenham Hotspur but, according to TuttoAtalanta, the Premier League giants and the Serie A club are poles apart on a transfer fee. 

This time last week, Malinovskyi was expected to follow in Remo Freuler’s footsteps, swapping Bergamo for the City Ground. 

That was until reports from Ukraine suggested that the 29-year-old had his heart set on a more ‘ambitious’ move.

“As far as I know, the option with Nottingham Forest is not (being) considered by Malinovskyi,” explains reporter Viktor Vatsko. “Because he has specific offers from Premier League clubs who have a much higher level of ambition compared to the EPL rookie.” 

Tottenham lead Nottingham Forest in Ruslan Malinovskyi race

Now, the identity of that mystery suitor appears to have been revealed.

Tottenham have moved into pole position. That is despite the fact Inter Milan opted against signing Malinovskyi in a previous window. There were concerns about whether the former Genk ace would fit into Antonio Conte’s rigid 3-4-2-1 formation. 

According to TuttoAtalanta, Malinivskyi has ‘said yes’ to Spurs. Finding an agreement with his current employers, however, is proving to be a more difficult challenge. 

Tottenham want Malinovskyi on loan, with an option to buy. Atalanta, however, would prefer to cash in immediately. Failing that, they would demand an ‘obligation to buy’, rather than an option, with the one-time Shakhtar Donetsk youngster valued in the £18 million bracket.

Nottingham Forest reportedly submitted a £12 offer last week (Tuttomercatoweb). 

Malinovskyi, a stylish goalscoring midfielder with a fearsome left boot and a penchant for long-range wondergoals, has hit double figures in three of the last four seasons, finding the net 10 times in 2021/22.

But where he fits into Conte’s system – his best Atalanta form coming on the right-hand side of a 4-2-3-1 formation – is anyone’s guess. 

Perhaps Malinovskyi can adapt to a deeper role, alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg or Yves Bissouma. Or maybe he could thrive in the Dejan Kulusevski role, cutting inside onto his left foot. 

Interestingly, Malinovskyi’s wife appears to have started following Antonio Conte on Instagram. This comes after she appeared to announce an imminent departure from Italian soil.