Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly working to secure the signing of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez as Antonio Conte eyes a reunion.
According to Tutto Mercato Web, Tottenham Hotspur are attempting to complete the capture of Inter Milan and Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez in the summer transfer window.
Martinez signed for Inter Milan from Racing Club in 2018 and has grown into a key player for the Nerazzurri. The 24-year-old was one of their best players last season as they won the Serie A title. Following the summer departure of Romelu Lukaku, the Argentine stepped up and took over the mantle of the main striker, helping Simone Inzaghi’s side start things off on a strong note.
However, Martinez’s form has dipped in recent months, while his struggles in the UEFA Champions League have also attracted negative attention. This, coupled with the club’s financial difficulties, mean that Inter Milan are considering selling the Argentina international at the end of the season, alerting several top clubs across Europe.
There has already been interest from Arsenal and Manchester City, while Barcelona and Manchester United have also been linked. Now, Tottenham Hotspur have also emerged as serious suitors for Martinez, with manager Antonio Conte believed to be open to a reunion with the striker.
Tottenham need a new striker to bolster their attacking unit in the summer as they do not have any backup for superstar Harry Kane. The England captain’s future at the club is also not set in stone as failure to qualify for the Champions League could change things, while it has also been claimed that he could consider leaving if Conte is not backed properly in the transfer market.
The north London giants do have Son Heung-min, Steven Bergwijn and Dejan Kulusevski as options, but none of them is a natural centre-forward. So signing a proper No. 9 makes sense for Tottenham in the summer, and Martinez has seemingly emerged as a target for the club.
Spurs were interested in signing the Inter Milan superstar last year, but a move did not materialise as the Nerazzurri were reluctant to lose Lukaku and Martinez in the same window. However, with the Serie A champions likely to be more receptive to offers later this year, it could pave the way for Tottenham to get their hands on the 24-year-old.
Considering that Martinez signed a new long-term contract with Inter until 2026, he could command a huge transfer fee. Whether Daniel Levy is willing to loosen the purse strings to sign him remains to be seen.
