Gazzetta dello Sport has recently claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are unwilling to pay €40m for Napoli centre-forward Arkadiusz Milik this summer. It is believed that Spurs are prepared to lure him to North London during this summer transfer window, but are not in favour of meeting the Naples club’s demands for their prized asset.
Milik’s Eye-Catching Season In Italian Football
The Tychy-born striker experienced another sensational season at the San Paolo Stadium as he has put in several productive displays as the focal point of Gennaro Gattuso’s frontline. He managed to net 14 goals in 35 games for the Italian giants in the previous campaign on all fronts. His numbers prove just how fruitful he can be in front of the opposition goal, but he has failed to create too many chances in the offensive end of the field.
Milik averaged 2.6 shots and 0.7 key passes per game and can boast a pass completion rate of 83.6% in the Serie A and the UEFA Champions League last season (stats via whoscored). However, he needs regular first-team starts to build up his confidence in the final third, but doesn’t have the same impact in matches when he comes on as a late-game substitute. That is something which Spurs should keep in mind if they decide to table an offer for the experienced Poland international this summer.
What Are The Polish Centre-Forward’s Best Attributes?
Standing at 1.86m, Milik can be a real handful for any defender as he possesses the strength to outmuscle the opposition inside their penalty box. He is also intelligent enough to get into some promising positions up top and is a lethal finisher in front of goal. The 49-time Poland international is also renowned for his quality from dead-ball situations as he is one of the few set-piece specialists in the Napoli squad.
Should Tottenham Get Milik On Board This Summer?
Jose Mourinho needs to add more depth to his squad if he intends to compete for a top-four place in the Premier League next season. Thus, Milik fits the bill perfectly as he will bring a lot of goals to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium if Spurs can agree on a fee with Gattuso’s side ahead of the new campaign.
At the moment, the 26-year-old is playing some of the best football of his playing career, but there are some concerns over whether Milik can deal with the physical nature and high intensity of English football. Either way, Mourinho should consider meeting Napoli’s €40m asking price as he has all the skillset required to provide some decent competition for Harry Kane at the English capital.
Even though the Polish striker is not as prolific as Kane, yet he could still be a useful asset for Spurs in the cup competitions where Mourinho could look to rest some of his big-name first-team stars to cope with fixture congestion in the upcoming campaign.
