Italian outlet Mondo Udinese report that Aston Villa and Tottenham may return to the negotiating table in the summer to sign Udinese star Gerard Deulofeu – with the report saying Spurs had a deal done for him in the January window.
Deulofeu, who turns 29 later this month, has been excellent at Udinese. Since joining the Serie A side in the summer of 2020, he has gone on to play 68 times in league and cup. Injuries have hampered the Spain international’s availability.
Injury saw him play just 15 times in his first season. His best season came last term, having a hand in 18 goals in 35 games. This season, he was impressing – 10 goals and assists in 18. A Spurs move was ‘done’, but his knee ended that.
That is according to Mondo Udinese. They claim Spurs had closed a deal for the ex-Watford and Everton star. Unai Emery was also keen – but Deulofeu will now be sidelined until the summer. The report says both could come back in.
Aston Villa and Tottenham may return to sign Gerard Deulofeu in summer
Costing Udinese a permanent fee of £15million to sign from Watford in January 2021 after his initial loan spell – it is unclear how much Deulofeu would cost now. A player at the top of his game, but injury prone and about to turn 29.
That, and the winger has entered the final 18 months of his contract. It might be that a similar fee to the one Udinese paid to sign him could be required. But given his injury, it remains to be seen if Villa or Spurs will actually be interested.
Villa would be a good move for Deulofeu – with Emery’s side really lacking in width. At Spurs, he would be warming Antonio Conte’s bench and while it might be in the Champions League, a move to Villa makes much more sense.
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