Tottenham Hotspur have entered the race for Cagliari star Nahitan Nandez who has burnt all bridges at the Italian club.
According to the Italian publication Centotrentuno, Tottenham Hotspur have entered the fray for the signing of Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez.
The Uruguayan star’s relationship with the club has become strained after he failed to turn up for a friendly against Spanish side Mallorca. He was consequently dropped for the game against Pisa and is currently training alone at home.
This fracture could pave the way for Tottenham Hotspur to sway the player’s interest and land him this summer. The 25-year-old is a central midfielder who can also play on the right. A defensively astute player, he would be a solid addition to the Spurs squad.
The North Londoners could be set for a windfall if Harry Kane does end up moving to Manchester City in the coming weeks. While Spurs would be losing a key player, it could give them the resources to strengthen the squad as a whole.
According to the report, Spurs would be keen on making an offer that will see the Uruguayan join the club initially on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent included. Whether this will be enough to see them trump Inter Milan to land the player remains to be seen.
As things stand the futures of Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks, and Tanguy Ndombele are all up in the air. Spurs cannot afford to let the trio leave without bringing in adequate replacements. If they were to lose Kane, they would have to make up for it in other areas of the pitch.
A tenacious player who is not afraid to get stuck in, Nandez has what it takes to succeed in England. He made 1.8 tackles per match last season while also making 0.7 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and completing 1.2 dribbles per 90 minutes. Only Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg has put up better figures than him in those criteria at Spurs.
The Uruguayan is, however, not without his weaknesses. He is not the best passer of the ball and cannot compete in the air. Despite that, he won more aerial duels than both Ndombele and Sissoko last season. Playing Nandez in midfield could see the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli, among others, be offered more freedom to attack. His lack of distribution could be offset by playing in a double pivot alongside Hojbjerg of Oliver Skipp.
Tottenham could also face competition from Leeds United who have been linked with the player. Marcelo Bielsa’s side was humbled on the weekend by Manchester United, who cut through the midfield with ease. Whether it will prompt the Yorkshire outfit to renew their interest in Nandez remains to be seen.
A move to Tottenham would be a welcome respite to Nandez who appears to have reached a point of no return at Cagliari. The North Londoners are also in need of new players with a point to prove. This could very well prove to be a match made in heaven.
