Torino are striving to agree a new contract with striker Andrea Belotti, but the Tottenham Hotspur target is putting barriers in the Serie A side’s path to a deal, according to Sky Italia.
Il Toro hope to extend Belotti’s stay at the Olympic Grande Torino Stadium, having entered the last year of his existing terms. Torino chiefs presented the forward with an official offer in recent days, but gaps remain between their financial positions.
Torino are ready to increase Belotti’s base salary to €3.3m-a-year (£54k-p/w), however differences over the release clause are complicating talks. Belotti feels the €100m (£85m) fee in his current deal blocked transfers previously and wants it reduced to €25m (£21m).
Torino are prepared to lower their value, but would like it to be €40m (£34m) after he won Euro 2020. Belotti is also their seventh-best scorer of all-time with 105 goals in 228 games, to warrant a strong asking price. Negotiations are continuing to try and find a resolution.
Tottenham will be keeping a close eye on Belotti’s ongoing negotiations with Torino over a new contract. Corriere dello Sport recently noted Spurs want the Italian in north London, while Zenit St Petersburg had offered €30m (£25.5m).
Belotti, though, was not interested in moving to Russia and rejected the Premier Liga side’s offer, per TuttoMercatoWEB. The Italian publication added Belotti told Torino he could run down his current contract if they cannot agree new terms.
Tottenham may actually now hope Torino meet Belotti’s request for a reduced release clause to seize on the lower fee. Tuttosport note Il Toro want €34m (£29m) for the 27-year-old during the current summer transfer window.
New Torino contract a small hurdle in Tottenham pursuit of Belotti
Belotti signing a new contract with Torino would be a small hurdle for Tottenham if Il Toro accept his position on the release clause. The Serie A side’s offer is considerably more than he would like, but may move closer to their current valuation.
It would take a lot of persuading for Torino to accept Belotti’s request for a £21m clause, given Zenit’s offer. But Tottenham would know any fee in that region is likely worthwhile on Belotti. An often-praised striker who scored 13 goals and seven assists last season.
“Belotti is one of the best strikers in Europe”, former England manager Fabio Capello once said, via Goal. “He knows how to move, he basically knows how to do everything. He’s fast, technically skilled and is probably better than [Argentina icon Gabriel] Batistuta.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
