Tottenham now face Inter Milan problem in race to sign £34m target

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Inter Milan are reportedly willing to go big on signing Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini, with Tottenham also in the race for the 18-year-old wonderkid.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Nerazzurri are eager to land the ‘generational’ Italian prospect in January as a centre-back reinforcement, with both Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij’s contracts expiring come to the end of this season.

As per the report, Scalvini has a release clause of €40m (£34m), and given how promising the defender has looked this season in his debut season with Atalanta, there is reason to believe that a club such as Inter could move to sign the teenager for this fee.

Indeed, Tottenham are also interested in Scalvini as reported by CalcioMercatoWeb, with other European clubs keeping tabs on the youngster. However, Inter’s inclusion in the race could be a serious problem for Antonio Conte’s side given how enticing the Italian giants could be for the defender.

The San Siro giants have one of the finest development records in Europe for centre-backs, with the aforementioned Skriniar prospering into one of the best in the world since moving to Inter, with fellow Tottenham target and Atalanta product Alessandro Bastoni also thriving under Simone Inzaghi’s coaching.

Indeed, Inter’s interest will be viewed as an issue for Tottenham, and whilst Spurs have the funds to match the Atalanta defender’s release clause, there is every chance that the player himself could reject a move to north London in favour of a move west of Bergamo to Milan.

Inter signing Scalvini will be a hammer blow for Tottenham

Scalvini has firmly established himself this season as one of the most exciting talents coming out of Italy this season, with the defender having all the technical and physical tools to become a world-class centre-back in the years to come. And for Tottenham, losing out on the youngster to Inter will sting.

After all, Scalvini could be exceptional under Conte and a real asset for Tottenham in the years to come. But given Inter’s reputation in Italy and their impressive track record of developing defenders, there’s every chance that the Lombardy side will win the race for the Atalanta starlet.