Juventus have withdrawn from the chase for Lazio’s Keita Balde potentially making Tottenham favourites for his signature.
Tottenham Hotspur have received a significant boost in their pursuit of Keita Balde.
The Mirror reported earlier this week that Spurs are pushing to sign the Senegal international.
But their chase has been dogged by interest from Italian champions Juventus.
Now the Bianconeri have officially withdrawn their interest.
Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta told a press conference they have given up after seeing a bid rejected by Lazio.
He said, quoted by Football Italia: “We made an offer to Lotito that we consider to be fair, then he is able to decide his strategies in his own club, and so we have withdrawn.”
While Juventus have withdrawn interest, Balde’s future is not cut and dry.
He missed Lazio’s Super Cup win at the weekend and was not invited to their celebration event in midweek.
This culminated with Keita’s agent Roberto Calenda slamming the club on Twitter.
It is a strange situation for a forward who netted 16 goals last season, with Lazio fearing he was trying to push a move to Juventus, the one club they did not want him to join.
There is clearly now a real opportunity for Spurs to step up their pursuit of the 22-year-old and put in an offer Lazio can’t refuse.
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