Tottenham Hotspur reportedly wanted Nicolo Zaniolo this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur signed Giovani Lo Celso from Real Betis on deadline day, but they were linked with a whole host of other playmakers over the summer.
Spurs secured Lo Celso on loan with a view to a permanent deal, but he’s already picked up an injury on international duty which will keep up out until the end of October.
Some Spurs fans may now be wondering about the alternative playmaker targets Spurs looked at, including Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo.
The 20-year-old impressed in his first season at Roma having been used as a makeweight in a deal that saw Radja Nainggolan join Inter, with Zaniolo hitting six goals and two assists.
A 6ft 3in midfielder, Zaniolo is being touted for stardom, and recently penned a new deal with Roma until 2024 after a strong campaign.
However, he did receive interest over the summer, with his agent Claudio Vigorelli telling the Daily Mail that Spurs were ‘serious’ about signing his client this summer.
Vigorelli compared Zaniolo to former Spurs hero Paul Gascoigne, whilst admitting that he and the midfielder enjoyed Tottenham’s interest.
Spurs fans have now offered a mixed reaction, with some baffled by the comparison to Gascoigne, suggesting there would never be another player like Gascoigne.
Others think Spurs will regret missing out on Zaniolo, but some would prefer Lo Celso anyway, whilst highlighting how hard it can be to sign Italian players.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
