AS Roma have reportedly rejected Tottenham Hotspur’s offer for versatile Italian midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo.
According to Sky Sports, Italian giants AS Roma have rejected a bid from Tottenham Hotspur for Nicolo Zaniolo in the ongoing January transfer window.
The Italian international is one of Serie A’s best young attackers. And at 23, he is primed to take the next steps in his rise to stardom. Having moved to Stadio Olimpico from Inter Milan in 2018, Zaniolo quickly rose to prominence but has seen his development stunted by injuries.
Now back available, he is in the process of resurrecting his career under Jose Mourinho. So far, he has made 17 appearances for the capital side, scoring twice and assisting three goals. While the numbers do not appear prolific, Zaniolo’s performances and style suggest he can do much better in an attack-minded setup.
Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici will be well aware of the 23-year-old’s strengths and could do with his services in north London. The former has made it no secret that he is seeking mid-season reinforcements. And an attacker appears to be on the agenda.
However, Tottenham have fallen short of landing Zaniolo despite making an offer to Roma. The Giallorossi are open to selling the 23-year-old but appear unwilling to lower their asking price of £35 million. As of yet, Spurs are yet to make a second offer and appear to have cooled their interest.
Tottenham were also linked with a move for Brighton attacker Leandro Trossard. They have seen an initial bid rejected for the 28-year-old, who has since agreed to move to Arsenal. Losing the player, especially to their arch-rivals would be a sore spot for Conte and co.
Spurs are said to have no plans of returning for Zaniolo. However, it remains to be seen if losing out on Trossard will change their mind. With just days left in the January transfer window, the time to act is now. The north Londoners do have other players on their radar. But Zaniolo is a long-term target who has been in the club’s sights for years.
Tottenham are struggling to show inspiration in the attack and are heavily reliant on Harry Kane. Son Heung-min’s loss of form has not helped matters. And it would be too much to expect the English striker to shoulder all the burden upfront.
Dejan Kulusevksi’s injuries have not helped, while Lucas Moura’s form leaves little to be said. Zaniolo is no goalscorer but is capable of crafting opportunities and lessening the pressure on those around him. Tottenham risk throwing away their promising start this season by not being too proactive in the January transfer window.
