Tottenham 'exploring' signing £42m star at Hotspur Way | OneFootball

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GiveMeSport

·9 August 2022

Tottenham 'exploring' signing £42m star at Hotspur Way

Article image:Tottenham 'exploring' signing £42m star at Hotspur Way

Tottenham are “exploring” the possibility of signing AS Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The north London club have been busy during this window, but it appears that manager Antonio Conte could still make at least one more signing before the market closes.


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Article image:Tottenham 'exploring' signing £42m star at Hotspur Way

What is the latest news involving Zaniolo?

Reports in Italy suggest that Tottenham have an interest in Zaniolo, who can play out wide and behind the striker.

AsRomaLive recently claimed that Spurs are considering making an offer for the 23-year-old.

If it is under €50m (£42m), though, it is unlikely to be accepted, with the same outlet stating that Roma want that figure for their player.

Whether Tottenham would be willing to pay that for someone who does not seem to be a priority given how late they are moving for him, however, remains to be seen.

What has Jones said about Zaniolo and Tottenham?

Jones has told GIVEMESPORT that Spurs are considering Zaniolo but he is not at the top of their list.

Speaking to GMS, the journalist said: “Zaniolo is still one there. I’d say they’re exploring rather than really prioritising at this point. They would like him, but certain conditions have to be met, and I’m not sure Tottenham are going to meet all of them.”

Should Zaniolo have been a priority for Tottenham during this transfer window?

Not really. It was clear very early that Richarlison was the attacker that Conte wanted to bring to Hotspur Way, and the Italian has got his man.

Of course, perhaps Conte would like to add a more natural No.10 to his squad, a position that Zaniolo is very familiar with, playing there 84 times in his career.

However, Tottenham do not even use a formation that features a central attacking midfielder. They mostly line-up in a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 system like in the recent 4-1 win against Southampton.

When you consider all of that, Zaniolo, who was described as being Jose Mourinho’s “most talented player” by Gabriele Marcotti last year, was never going to be on the top of Conte’s list of transfer targets.

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Article image:Tottenham 'exploring' signing £42m star at Hotspur Way

Do you know this obscure player Tottenham signed in the January transfer window?

Mounir El Hamdaoui Hélder Postiga Stéphane Dalmat Noé Pamarot

Because the former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss deploys a back three, he also needed to sign a left-sided central defender, which he was able to do after bringing Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on loan.

Ben Davies, a left-back, has been fulfilling that role for Spurs, so it was obvious that strengthening that area of the pitch was more important than recruiting a No.10.

Ultimately, signing someone like Zaniolo would probably just be a bonus on top of the business Tottenham have already done this summer.

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