If reports are to be believed, Pellegrini is high on Mauricio Pochettino’s January transfer shopping list. No, the brilliant Argentine does not want the Chilean as his deputy. It is Lorenzo Pellegrini we are talking about who is another Sassuolo star to be linked with a move to the Premier League. The report by HITC, with Gazzetta Dello Sport being the source, claims that Spurs could launch a bid of £8.6m to sign the lad.
Tottenham Hotspur have been a class apart in recent weeks. After a terrific run last year where a late collapse saw them inexplicably finish 3rd below Leicester City and Arsenal, they started off slowly this season. There were suggestions of burnout and the dismal performances of the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane in the Euros gave more fodder to the cynics.
They took a bit of time to get going with the aforementioned players also showing lethargy and bluntness up front. There were a string of draws and a couple of losses which seemingly ended their title hopes and a Top 6 finish was immediately touted as the most feasible outcome of their season.
But they have embarked on a brilliant run since their last defeat and have steamrolled their opponents. The win to break Chelsea’s 13-match winning streak was the pick of the lot and Pochettino will look to do the double over Manchester City when the two sides meet on the weekend.
The likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli have burst into life and are ruling the Premier League once again. And while things might seem to be perfect at White Hart Lane, their midseason blip and their abject Champions League failure point to demons beneath the roads they are walking. With Europa League to contend with, they need fresh players to keep the momentum going.
Dembele and Wanyama have been majestic in midfield and have been an important part of their displays lately. But Dembele’s iffy injury record is something which is always playing in the back of one’s mind. And hence the reports linking Mauricio Pochettino with a move for Lorenzo Pellegrini makes sense.
The central midfielder has been impressive for the Serie A side and he fits in perfectly with the club’s policy of bringing young players into their ranks. At 20 years of age, he is already quite a handful and with a considerable time under Pochettino, has the potential of turning into one of the finer midfielders in the Premier League.
Pellegrini moved to the club from Roma in 2015 and has gone on to make 40 appearances for the Serie A outfit. And the 20-year-old has particularly impressed so far this term, scoring three goals and providing three assists in 15 league appearances for his club. He is not afraid to take shots from distance and he also is adept at providing layoffs for his teammates. He is strong in tackle but needs to work on his discipline a tad bit.
Spurs do not want to make the same mistake again this time and hence their urgency to try and add to their ranks this January as they look to sustain their title charge along with putting up a good show in the Europa League.
