Roma’s Serie A starlet Nicolo Zaniolo continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League with Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs.
Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to offer Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo a six-year contract as they attempt to lure the Italian international to North London, according to Corriere Dello Sport.
One of the summer’s longest transfer sagas still has a while to run. We’re in mid-July now and still no one has managed to tempt Roma to sell a 20-year-old they signed to little fanfare last summer as part of a swap deal with Inter Milan.
But Tottenham have not given up hope of making Zaniolo their latest big-money midfield signing, after the club-record swoop for Lyon enforcer Tanguy Ndombele.
Corriere dello Sport claims that manager Mauricio Pochettino has ‘fallen in love’ with the rangy Italian, while Roma’s sporting director Franco Baldini will meet Spurs either on Monday or Tuesday to discuss a deal, which could see Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld go the other way.
With Tottenham preparing a six-year contract, it seems that the Champions League runners-up are stepping up their pursuit.
And there’s one man in particular who might see these developments as a concern; Dele Alli. The 23-year-old remains a huge talent but his lack of progress over the last few years is certainly worrying. Alli scored just seven goals in 2018/19, down from 14 and 20 in the two seasons prior with his influence in games waning dramatically.
The England international remains a key pillar of Pochettino’s plans but, if Zaniolo arrives, he will no longer be guaranteed a place in the starting XI. Tottenham’s ongoing pursuit of the Roma star should be something of a reality check for Alli, who will be under pressure to rediscover his golden touch over the coming months.
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