Tottenham Hotspur Have Set Their Sights On This Serie A Defender: Good Option For Spurs? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Tuttosport revealed that Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori. It is believed that Spurs would have to rival Juventus in the race to acquire the services of the Italian centre-back this summer.

Calafiori’s Impressive Form In Italian Football

Calafiori is having a solid campaign at the Italian club after putting in a series of decent performances for them on the defensive third of the field. The Italian talent has been involved in 33 matches for Bologna this season, picking up three assists on all fronts.

The 21-year-old has been a good performer when defending inside his half as he is averaging 1.5 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 2.3 clearances per 90 minutes in Serie A. He has even distributed the ball accurately from the back based on his pass completion rate of 89.8% in league football (stats via whoscored).

His current contract at the Italian club will run out in the summer of 2027 which could make it tough for Spurs to get a deal done for him on the cheap in the upcoming transfer window.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 01: Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna FC competes for the ball with Domagoj Bradaric of US Salernitana during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and US Salernitana at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on April 01, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Is Calafiori A Good Option For Tottenham Hotspur?

Calafiori is a tough-tackling defender who can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t hesitate to put his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the front foot and is a tidy passer of the ball as well.

The Italian sensation is primarily a central defender but can also fill in as a left-back if told to do so. We can expect Calafiori to bring more bite and steel to Tottenham head coach Angelos Postecoglu’s defence if he can make a smooth transition to life in Premier League football.

At 21, the future looks quite promising for Calafiori as long as he continues to improve with each season. Hence, he would be a great option for the North London giants to pursue in the long run.

The Italian defensive ace is already good enough to challenge for a regular starting spot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and could help Spurs compete across all competitions in the coming years. Therefore, Postecoglu should look to bring him on board this summer.