Nwankwo Simy is set to snub a move to Tottenham Hotspur or Mallorca to join Salernitana following Crotone’s relegation from the Serie A last season, according to Calciomercato.
Salernitana have convinced Simy to leave Crotone after five years at the Stadio Ezio Scida to lead Fabrizio Castori’s offence. The Granata are preparing for their first year back in the Serie A since 1999, after finishing as runners up to Empoli for the second-tier title last term.
Salernitana edged Monza for the final automatic promotion place, despite having the worst offensive record among the Serie B’s top-eight finishers. Castori’s side scored just 46 times, with 14-goal star Gennaro Tutino their top-scorer, ahead of three players on five goals.
Fabio Paratici had wanted to make Simy one of his first signings at Tottenham after joining the club in June. That’s according to The Telegraph, who reported the ex-Juventus chief viewed him as an ideal backup for Harry Kane in north London after Crotone’s relegation.
Simy could not keep Crotone in Italy’s top-flight, despite scoring 20 goals last season. He was key to the Pitagorici’s promotion to the Serie A in 2019/20 as well, with 20 goals. But, after dropping straight back down, looked set for a move to La Liga last week.
Mallorca offered Crotone €3.5m (£3m) for Simy, per Gianluca Di Marzio. The Son Moix side were desperate to agree terms to edge interest from Salernitana and Lazio. But it seems Salernitana returned with an improved bid and convinced Simy to also snub Tottenham.
Salernitana will pay Crotone €6m (£5m) to beat Mallorca and Paratici’s Tottenham to Simy, and are accelerating the final stages. A total agreement between all three parties is close, with Pitagorici ready to accept the Granata’s offer.
Will Tottenham rue not signing Simy from Crotone amid Salernitana interest?
Paratici was clearly a big supporter of Simy, having wanted Tottenham to strike a deal with Crotone before Salernitana’s interest. But Spurs’ Managing Director looks set to miss out on the 29-year-old, who outscored Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez last season.
The Argentine struck three fewer Serie A goals than Simy, who matched Ciro Immobile with one less than Dusan Vlahovic. Simy also carried his would-be relegated side with 44% of Crotone’s 45 goals last season. Only Fiorentina’s Vlahovic (45%) contributed more.
And at £5m, Simy could have proven a real bargain if he replicated his Crotone efforts at Tottenham next term. Handing Nuno Espirito Santo a striker his former Pitagorici boss Serse Cosmi claimed, via Goal, has a ‘special’ physicality.
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