Premier League outfit Fulham are ready to open talks to sign Juan Ignacio Nardoni but may be forced to pay £22 million for the Racing Club midfielder.
One highly-rated Argentine youngster has already sealed his move to London this month; Tottenham Hotspur signing U20 striker Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central for a cool £13 million.
If reports are to be believed, fellow up-and-comer Juan Ignacio Nardoni could soon be joining Veliz in the capital.
Fulham, Tuttomercatoweb say, have shown ‘the most interest’ in the 20-year-old midfielder. What’s more, the Cottagers have told both Racing Club and Nardoni’s camp that they intend to start talks in the coming days, though whether Fulham would be willing to stump up a fee in the region of £22 million remains to be seen.
Fulham ready to open Juan Ignacio Nardoni talks
Nardoni only arrived at the Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Peron in January. He joined Racing Club from Union Santa Fe.
A versatile midfielder who tends to play in deeper positions but makes well-timed runs into the penalty area, Nardoni has four assists and one goal from 26 league outings this term.
“Nardoni has great potential,” Racing coach Fernando Gago – himself once an effective ‘number five’ for Real Madrid – tells TYC Sports. “He is improving and with a logical adaptation process for any 20-year-old player who arrives at a new club.
“I see him very well from the group and individually. I like his way of being and his desire to learn.”
Fulham’s interest in Nardoni comes as Liverpool reportedly renew their interest in Joao Palhinha; Jurgen Klopp casting his net a little wider after missing out on both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Chelsea.
Veliz, meanwhile, has been tipped to make a big splash in the Premier League in his new North London home. He scored 11 goals in 23 games for Rosario Central before joining Spurs.
“Congratulations to Tottenham, who took Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central,” Daniel Bertoni, a World Cup winner in 1978 with Argentina, tells Tuttomercatoweb.
“For me, (Veliz is) a phenomenon.”
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