Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly prioritise a move for 23-year-old Italian international Nicolo Zaniolo, who might be their final summer signing.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Nicolo Zaniolo is the top target for Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici heading into the final month of the summer transfer window. Tottenham will prioritise signing the 23-year-old Italian international from AS Roma but will first have to offload a couple of players.
Nicolo Zaniolo has been on a constantly upward trajectory since joining AS Roma from Inter Milan four years ago. While two long-term knee injuries have stunted the player’s progress, he has often bounced back strongly and has done well to carve out a spot for himself in Jose Mourinho’s squad at Stadio Olimpico.
The 23-year-old has amassed 22 goals and 15 assists in 111 appearances thus far for AS Roma. But despite largely being consistent, Zaniolo faces an uncertain future at the Serie A club, with the Italian international’s situation capturing the attention of several European bigwigs, including Tottenham Hotspur.
The interest from Tottenham Hotspur stems from the lack of creativity from the central areas, prompting them to scour the market for a playmaker. Spurs thus chased Danish international Christian Eriksen over a possible fairytale return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But Eriksen has joined Manchester United on a free transfer, forcing Tottenham to return to the drawing board. Zaniolo has thus emerged as a viable target, with the north Londoners now making him their priority target for the summer transfer window.
Spurs have already completed six signings in a busy start to the summer transfer window. But with creativity running low from midfield, Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici have decided to prioritise signing the Zaniolo. However, before launching the offensive for the 23-year-old Italian international, Tottenham will look to offload Lucas Moura and Tanguy Ndombele.
A part of the claims in the report contradicts Conte’s recent remarks, with the Tottenham manager suggesting he will utilise Lucas Moura as a right wing-back in the upcoming season. But Ndombele is surplus to requirements at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with AS Roma coincidentally one of his prospective suitors.
Meanwhile, Zaniolo could also be an option in attack, if needed, considering he has remodelled himself well as a right-winger. But it will be interesting to see how Conte will use the 23-year-old Italian international if he joins Tottenham this summer.
