Inter Milan have left Roberto Gagliardini and Joao Mario out of their Champions League squad.
Tottenham Hotspur may have missed out on making any summer signings, but they were linked with a host of players – and two of them may just be available after all.
Spurs have gone into this season with virtually the same squad as last term, despite Mauricio Pochetitino’s desire to get new signings in – specifically a new midfielder.
Harry Winks endured injury problems this year whilst Mousa Dembele may still be on his way out given that his contract expires this summer, making a new midfielder important.
In the latter stages of the summer window, Tuttomercatoweb reported that Spurs wanted to bring in Inter Milan midfielder Roberto Gagliardini, before The Mirror claimed that Tottenham were also keen on his teammate Joao Mario.
Tottenham have since been drawn against Inter Milan in the group stages of the Champions League, and the two players in question certainly won’t be facing Pochettino’s men.
Both Gagliardini and Mario have been left out of Inter’s Champions League squad, meaning they may well be available when the transfer window re-opens as they struggle for playing time under Luciano Spalletti.
Gagliardini, 24, has made more than 50 appearances for Inter and appears to have some untapped potential having starred with hometown club Atalanta, and would give Pochettino a combative midfielder adept at winning the ball back, with his 6ft 3in frame certainly useful in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, ex-West Ham loanee Mario is certainly unwanted at the San Siro, and he would surely be a potential bargain in January as Inter look to flog the Portuguese international, with the squad announcement surely of interest to Pochettino given the summer rumours.
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