According to Corriere Dello Sport, Tottenham Hotspur have submitted a stunning player plus cash offer in the pursuit of Nicolo Zaniolo. It is believed that the Lilywhites are ready to offer Toby Alderweireld plus €23 million for the services of the AS Roma midfielder, who is expected to leave Stadio Olimpico this summer.
However, Spurs could face stiff competition from Juventus. The report claims that the Italian champions are the preferred destination for Zaniolo (despite offering lower wages than Tottenham) and they are willing to include Gonzalo Higuain in the mix in the deal to sign the Italian international.
Zaniolo’s breakthrough campaign at Roma
Zaniolo enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Roma last term, after initially joining the club in a €4.5 million move from Inter Milan last summer. Despite a slow start to the season, the youngster became an integral part of Roma’s creative department from November.
He ended the campaign with 27 league appearances, 20 of which were starts. Zaniolo netted four goals and provided two assists, but his overall contributions were far greater as it served as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dire campaign for Roma. The Giallorossi finished sixth in the league table, missing out on Champions League.
As a result, the Italian giants are open to selling some of their stars this summer in an attempt to cut down on wages, which is believed to be the primary concern for the player, as per the report.
What can Zaniolo bring to the table?
An attacking midfielder by trade, Zaniolo is primarily known for his versatility on the pitch. He featured as a right winger on numerous occasions with Roma the last term while the 20-year-old can also operate in a deeper midfield role. His silky footwork, coupled with his remarkable close control allows him to nestle through tight spaces and ideally act as the ball-carrier.
Furthermore, the Italian international is always willing to close down opponents. But, it is his proficiency from set-pieces that makes him such a sought-after youngster in Europe.
Should Tottenham sign Zaniolo?
After failing to sign a single player in the previous two transfer windows, Tottenham have come out all guns blazing, having notably secured the services of Tanguy Ndombele. The Frenchman will serve as a massive boost for Mauricio Pochettino in the midfield department that has struggled with injuries to key players such as Eric Dier, Harry Winks and Victor Wanyama.
And the addition of someone like Zaniolo will offer Pochettino with additional options in midfield, which could be useful given his heavy rotation policy. But most importantly, Zaniolo, at the age of 20, has time on his side and can potentially be considered as a long-term replacement for Christian Eriksen, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer.
