Fabio Paratici is backing Antonio Conte’s pursuit of Ruslan Malinovskyi at Tottenham Hotspur with the Premier League giants viewing the Atalanta playmaker as the ‘perfect’ January addition, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
Spurs fans really didn’t need reminding of the disparity in performance that exists between a Tottenham side with Dejan Kulusevski and a Tottenham side without their silky Swede.
Just for the avoidance of doubt, however, Kulusevski made his return from injury recently and set up a goal for Harry Kane with a trademark inch-perfect through ball mere moments after coming off the bench against Liverpool.
Six days later, in his first Premier League start in two months, the Juventus loanee tore Leeds apart during a thrilling 4-3 win in North London. As Conte himself points out, a fit Kulusevski could be the difference between Spurs achieving their ambitious this season and falling short.
The January window, then, feels like the ideal opportunity for Spurs to lessen the risk. Namely, by bringing in a player capable of easing the creative burden on Kulusevski’s shoulders. Malinovskyi, 45 goals and 42 assists in the last four full seasons, certainly ticks a fair few boxes.
Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur like Atalanta ace Ruslan Malinovskyi
Conte held face-to-face talks with the Ukraine international over the summer. Atalanta refused to cash in at the time but are ready to let Malinovskyi go in the New Year. La Dea are in the midst of a transitional period. Remo Freuler and Robin Gosens have gone already. Duvan Zapata, Luis Murial and Malinovskyi could be the next to depart.
The former Genk ace can be snapped up for £25 million (Calciomercato). A hefty fee for a 29-year-old. But with Paratici and Conte in agreement that Malinovskyi can help Spurs ‘make a further leap in quality’, do not be surprised if all parties end up shaking hands.
TMW say that negotiations between Tottenham and Atalanta are yet to begin. That should change sooner rather than later, however. Spurs have already contacted Atalanta president Antonio Percassi to make their interest known. Ditto rival suitors West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.
North London feels like the most obvious destination, however. A left-footed schemer labelled an ‘extraordinary’ talent by Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has already expressed his admiration for the 2019 Champions League finalists.
Malinovskyi’s fellow Ukrainian Mykhaylo Mudryk could soon be on his way to the English capital too. Despite an £85 million price-tag, Mudryk is holding out for a move to Arsenal.
“I have given maybe a dozen interviews in English,” the one-time Brentford target points out. “I’ve been studying English for a long time.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
