Tottenham and West Ham United have reportedly submitted an enquiry for 23-year-old Bologna midfielder Mattias Svanberg over a summer move.
According to a report by Corriere dello Sport, as relayed by two separate stories by Sport Witness, Tottenham and West Ham United have made an approach to Bologna for Swedish midfielder Mattias Svanberg ahead of a potential swoop in the summer.
The midfielder came through the ranks at Malmo’s academy and broke into the Swedish side’s regular starting XI as a teenager before being snapped up by Serie A Bologna in 2018. Since then, the 23-year-old has gone from strength to strength, racking up 116 competitive appearances with the Serie A outfit. It is quite a feat for a player of his age, while he has also chipped in with nine goals and seven assists during that time.
A versatile and talented midfielder, the Swede has emerged as one of the best performing midfielders in Serie A this term, boasting three goals and two assists from 29 Serie A starts this season and has been an integral component of Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team thus far, as they find themselves closer to an unlikely top-half finish rather than the relegation zone this season.
Svanberg’s current deal expires in 2023, and the Serie A outfit is reportedly locked in talks with his agents over a renewal. But the 23-year-old has yet to pen fresh terms with Bologna, casting further doubt on his long-term future with the Emilia-Romagna club.
It is suggested that the 23-year-old may seek a different opportunity at the end of his term. In that regard, the Serie A outfit may be forced to sell Svanberg in the summer to get the best value for him. It is understood that a fee in the region of €18-20 million could be enough to prise him away.
Needless to say, the dynamic midfielder’s eye-catching displays over in Italy this season have not gone unnoticed on the continent, with a host of Premier League clubs, including Everton, Manchester City, and Manchester United, keeping tabs on his progress and vying for his services. Now, Tottenham and West Ham have also jumped the ship of suitors and have already made their first enquiries about the availability of the Swedish midfielder.
Tottenham saw the departures of midfielders Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele (loan) and Giovani Lo Celso (loan) in January. Furthermore, Harry Winks looks certain to leave the North London club this summer, meaning Spurs could find themselves short of midfield options.
To that end, replacing Winks with a 23-year-old coveted midfielder like Svanberg would inject some drive and fresh blood into the midfield ranks. Renowned for his versatility and non-stop energy engine in the middle of the park, his qualities on both ends of the pitch would make him a useful addition for Tottenham.
The same report covered as separate story by Sport Witness mentions West Ham as a possible destination for the Swedish international. Like Spurs, the Hammers lack quality depth behind the favoured central pairing of Declan Rice and Thomas Soucek, with Spartak Moscow loanee Alex Kral enduring an underwhelming loan spell at West Ham. Moreover, 34-year-old Mark Noble is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season, making Svanberg a viable summer target.