Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus have agreed on a reduced fee for Dejan Kulusevski’s permanent transfer. But the winger must impress their new coach, Ange Postecoglou.
That is according to 90min, which now reports that Juventus have agreed to sell Kulusevski to Tottenham this summer. The 23-year-old has spent the past 18 months on loan at Spurs. But the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League threatened his permanent move.
Fabio Paratici had negotiated the inclusion of an obligation for Tottenham to buy Kulusevski in his negotiations with Juventus in January 2022. The Italian secured Spurs a €35m (£30m) clause but it depended on them finishing the 2022/23 Premier League term in the top four.
Juventus accept Tottenham’s reduced offer for Kulusevski
Yet Tottenham only finished the campaign in eighth place and have failed to qualify for any European competition. Thus their obligation to buy the Sweden star turned into an option. One that Spurs were reluctant to trigger at the full value their former transfer chief agreed.
Juventus and Tottenham have been locked in negotiations since the 22/23 season came to a conclusion over Kulusevski’s permanent transfer. But the Serie A side have now agreed to sell the forward for a reduced sum. Spurs will now only pay the Bianconeri €30m (£25.5m).
Kulusevski must impress Postecoglou despite any transfer
Kulusevski has been itching to see Tottenham turn his loan spell into a permanent transfer from Juventus this summer. But despite the two teams now agreeing on a fee, the move is not a guarantee of his position in the Spurs line-up under their new manager, Postecoglou.
The attacker likely faces having to convince the Australian of his merits after a substandard season in 2022/23. But Kulusevski’s camp are confident that he will impress Postecoglou in pre-season and during Tottenham’s maiden campaign under the former Celtic head coach.
Despite showing promise during his first few months on loan from Juventus in 2021/22, the 2022/23 season saw Kulusevski struggle with Tottenham. He ended the term with only two goals to his name over 37 appearances. He also laid on eight assists across all competitions.
Yet five of those assists came before the break in the calendar for the World Cup. While his display as Tottenham lost 1-0 at AC Milan in the Champions League last 16 in February saw Gazzetta dello Sport brand his performance as ‘disappointing’ when hooked on 70 minutes.
Kulusevski will no doubt hope Postecoglou can revive his career at Tottenham following his permanent transfer from Juventus. But he will have work to do to impress his latest coach.
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