Barcelona are now being linked with another Tottenham target in Giovanni Simeone.
The January transfer window is still some time away, but speculation at home and abroad surrounds Tottenham Hotspur after their signing-less summer.
With no additions for Mauricio Pochettino over the summer, some may want to see Spurs battling for signings in January, even if Pochettino has rarely done big business mid-season.
A number of players are already being linked with Spurs ahead of January, and whilst they will take on Barcelona in the Champions League group stage this season, they may have to battle them for two signings too.
It has been well reported this week that both Barcelona and Tottenham are both keen to land Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong, with Mundo Deportivo claiming the duo have had bids rejected.
As if a battle with Barcelona for such a talented young midfielder in De Jong wasn’t enough, Spurs may now have to fight them for one of Pochettino’s summer targets too.
Tuttosport recently reported that Tottenham made a €30million (£26.7million) bid for Fiorentina striker Giovanni Simeone, though that offer was rejected as the Serie A club fight to keep Simeone, and there have been some claims that Spurs will look to try again in 2019.
Now though, Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona have joined the race for Simeone too, meaning ex-Espanyol hero Pochettino may well be looking to beat his former nemesis on the pitch and in the transfer market.
With 14 Serie A goals last season, 23-year-old Simeone looks to be a real talent, but either move would force him to sit behind Harry Kane or Luis Suarez, which may not be ideal for the Argentinian’s development.
Barcelona’s huge prestige may just put them ahead of both De Jong and Simeone, but with no money spent over the summer, Pochettino may hope that he has the ability to splash the cash on a couple of key additions – such as De Jong and Simeone – when the transfer window re-opens.
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