Pierpaolo Marino believes Gerard Deulofeu is happy at Udinese, but will sell the forward if his club gets an ‘important’ bid, with Tottenham Hotspur showing an interest in a transfer.
Deulofeu moved to the Stadio Friuli on loan from Watford in 2020, before agreeing a €17m (£14m) permanent transfer the following January. He has since proven to be a vital part of the Bianconeri’s plans with 15 goals and seven assists during 50 games in all competitions.
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The 28-year-old recorded 13 of his strikes plus five assists through 34 appearances in Serie A last term. Deulofeu delivered a dynamic forward threat for the northeastern Italy outfit, as well, as the Spaniard produced influential outings from both central and wide-left positions.
Tottenham among clubs interested in signing Gerard Deulofeu of Udinese
Udinese still have Deulofeu under contract for a further two years, but are aware the four-cap forward’s future may be elsewhere. Il Mattino had reported in July that the Bianconeri accepted a €16m (£13.5m) bid from Napoli. But the Azzurri also needed to raise funds first.
Villarreal were leading the race prior to Napoli’s offer, with Relevo reporting Unai Emery’s side were prepared to pay €15m (£12.5m). But they, too, had to make sales before the La Liga outfit could finalise the former Barcelona and Sevilla star’s return to his native Spain.
Emery’s willingness to pay Udinese’s valuation for Deulofeu put Villarreal ahead of interest from Tottenham in the Barcelona product. Corriere dello Sport cited the attacker as one of Spurs’ off-season targets in June, while Calciomercato cited talks with West Ham in March.
Bianconeri CEO Marino admits it may be time to sell Gerard Deulofeu
Udinese CEO Marino does not want Deulofeu to leave the Serie A side this summer, but he accepts the forward can reach a higher level away from the Stadio Friuli amid interest from Champions League sides Tottenham and Napoli, plus last season’s semi-finalists, Villarreal.
“With Deulofeu, there is an excellent relationship,” Marino stated, via TuttoMercatoWEB. “He is very happy to be in Udine, in a positive context for him.
“We understand each other at a managerial and empathic level. I think it is right if an important offer arrives to give him a qualitative leap to his age, it would be the right time. But if he were to stay, it would be a gift. We would be delighted.”
Udinese start the new Serie A season against defending Scudetto holders AC Milan at the San Siro on August 13. The Bianconeri could only end the 2021/22 campaign in 12th place.
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