Report: Tottenham to miss out on £46m Conte target after months of talks

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Nicolo Zaniolo could now stay at AS Roma this summer despite months of talks with the likes of Tottenham, with the Italian international looking certain throughout the window to leave the Eternal City.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Zaniolo is close to staying with Roma for the season with the player’s entourage even scheduling talks with the Giallorossi about potentially renewing the midfielder’s contract, an update which could be a hammer blow to Tottenham’s chances of signing the 23-year-old.

Antonio Conte is reportedly a big fan of the midfielder and this summer has seen Tottenham embark on months of talks with Roma over potentially signing the Italian international, with a £46m bid reportedly being made in recent weeks, however, the youngster now looks set to stay with Jose Mourinho’s side.

Zaniolo started in Roma’s season opener against Salernitana alongside blockbuster summer signing Paulo Dybala and last year’s Serie A breakout star Tammy Abraham, and with the Italian now set to stay in his nation’s capital, Mourinho has a serious squad on his hands for the new campaign.

Indeed, with Juventus still struggling to find their new identity and AC Milan and Inter Milan sparsely improving their squads, there was already a strong chance that Roma could now challenge for the Scudetto this season, and with Zaniolo set to stay, a title bid could be fully launched this campaign.

Whilst there’s still time for Tottenham to make another move for Zaniolo this summer, this latest update seemingly ends any hope the north London side have in landing the talented and versatile Italian, and for Roma, the youngster remaining at the Stadio Olimpico is a season-changing event.

Roma could now challenge for Serie A title with Zaniolo set to stay

Roma have had an impressive transfer window following the arrivals of Dybala, Nemanja Matic and Georginio Wijnaldum, and with the ‘extraordinay‘ Zaniolo now likely to stay, Mourinho has a real shot at challenging for the title this season with his new-look Giallorossi squad.

After all, the former Tottenham manager has already won silverware with Roma in the form of last season’s UEFA Europa Conference League, and this year, Mourinho can go one big step further by winning the Scudetto, something the historic Serie A side have not lifted since 2001.