Nicolò Zaniolo

[THFCSPURS19]

Tottenham tracking promising Roma midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo

Juventus and Internazionale have also been linked with the 21-year-old Italian while Tottenham are confident they will sign Southampton’s Pierre-Emile Højbjerg

www.theguardian.com

Fabrizio Romano and Ed Aarons

Tottenham tracking promising Roma midfielder Nicolò Zaniolo

Tottenham are understood to be tracking Roma’s Nicolò Zaniolo but view the 21-year-old midfielder as a potential signing for the future despite his impressive performances this season.

Reports in Italy this week suggested Spurs were competing with Juventus and Internazionale to sign Zaniolo, who has scored six goals in 23 Serie A appearances in this campaign. But while Tottenham’s hierarchy are believed to regard the Italy international as a considerable prospect who would thrive in the Premier League in part because of his physical strength, he is not considered to be a priority for José Mourinho in this transfer window.

Talks with Southampton over a move for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg are continuing despite Everton’s £25m bid for the midfielder being accepted and there is a confidence at Spurs that they can get the deal done. The club were ready to offer £30m for Zaniolo last summer but Roma’s asking price was higher.

Roma are expected to offer Zaniolo a year extension in the summer to 2025 with the manager, Paulo Fonseca, denying a rift between the pair after Zaniolo came off the bench to score in the 6-1 thrashing of Spal on Wednesday – the first time since 1935 that Roma had scored six times in an away Serie A fixture. “We don’t want to sell him,” said Fonseca. “He is key to our project.”

Zaniolo, who came through Fiorentina’s youth system before joining Inter in 2017 and Roma a year later, also said he is fully committed to the club. “It’s like when you fall in love,” he wrote on Instagram. “You feel good together, she brings out the best in you and you want to be seen with her. It’s the same thing. Really, I love this shirt.”

 

[spursfan77]

Been poo pooed by that reliable italian journo.

 

[gavspur]

Isn’t he the one with a fit mum?

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Been poo pooed by that reliable italian journo.

Romano is the one who wrote the article.

 

[emiley heskey]

Rather just sign EZE if we really want to buy a under 21 attacking midfield prospect ... Zaniolo from what I have seen not much better than Lamela ...

 

[DiVaio]

Isn’t he the one with a fit mum?

He is

 

[emiley heskey]

Romano is the one who wrote the article.

Romano also told in twitter that Tottenham Board want to sign Zaniolo rather than the manager ... Just what he said in Twitter rehashed in this article ...

 

[spursfan77]

Romano is the one who wrote the article.

oh ok. Just passing on what I read earlier. Weird he’d tweet it’s not going to happen and then write an article about it.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

He’s not long back from a serious injury. Looks like Lamela MK2, would struggle in the EPL

 

[Spursmatty87]

What a weird story basically linking us but quashing the link at the same time.

 

[emiley heskey]

oh ok. Just passing on what I read earlier. Weird he’d tweet it’s not going to happen and then write an article about it.

He just wrote Tottenham hierarchy likes him as a prospect but Jose Mourinho doesn't see him as an important player to buy this window

 

[Johno1470]

He would offer a lot more than Lamela and has a physical aspect to his game that would result in him settling in quicker than Lamela took. However he’s only getting over a nasty injury and we have bigger issues in our squad rather than signing another attacker.

 

[Timberwolf]

All sounds very believable tbh. There was smoke last summer and presumably we're still tracking him, but no reason for us to prioritise him this summer when we have other positions in dire need of attention and limited funds.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

So, if I'm reading this correctly, it's understood that we're interested but not interested.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

It's a no from me.

 

[Johno1470]

So, if I'm reading this correctly, it's understood that we're interested but not interested.

Sums up standard journalism these days, if you can call it that.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Not what we need is he?

If we were selling Ndombele, you could just about (but probably not) see it. Even then, there are loads of more suitable replacements.

 

[daryl hannah]

Atrocious player.

Steer clear of players Roma are actively trying to offload.

I can't believe we'd ever consider it.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Haha i literally signed him for Spurs in FIFA career mode just last week so its obviously a yes from me... Lol

 

[Montalbano]

Atrocious player.

Steer clear of players Roma are actively trying to offload.

I can't believe we'd ever consider it.

I really hope the joke is flying over my head here lmao