Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur have expressed their desire to sign AS Roma’s young sensation Nicolo Zaniolo.
According to Calciomercato, AS Roma are seemingly keen on tying Nicolo Zaniolo down to a new contract. The midfielder’s current contract expires in 2024 and the Giallorossi want to extend him for a further year. The player himself is keen on continuing at Roma and even want to win silverware with Jose Mourinho.
However, Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for the young Italian, who is regarded as one of the most talented playmakers in Serie A. The Premier League giants have inquired about the possibility of signing Zaniolo, with Nuno Espirito Santo intent on shoring up his options in the creative department.
It is apparent that Spurs have lacked creativity in their midfield, with players like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp not providing much variety to the table. They do have Tanguy Ndombele, but the Frenchman faces an uncertain future at the club and is shockingly a potential target for Manchester United.
Dele Alli, too, hasn’t managed to rekindle his form over the past 18 months while Giovani Lo Celso’s progress has been halted by injuries over and over again. It has forced Tottenham to seek new options in the market, with Zaniolo emerging as one of the potential candidates.
Formerly of Genoa, the 22-year-old has enjoyed immense success with Roma since joining the club in 2018. He has featured in 74 competitive matches for the club, taking part in 21 goals.
The youngster did have an unfortunate time with injuries last year but is now back to full fitness, notably starting in four of Roma’s matches in the new season. Although he is yet to register a goal or assist, it is apparent that he is a crucial part of Mourinho’s creative department, alongside Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Zaniolo, though, could be an interesting addition to the Tottenham side, particularly due to his versatility. He is traditionally an attacker but likes to hover around the more central areas of the pitch and can thus operate either as a number ten or as a right-winger in Nuno’s 4-2-3-1 setup, potentially forming a deadly partnership with Son Heung-Min.
However, the report does add that Roma are on the verge of sealing a new deal with the player, who himself has romantical ties with the club. A departure, therefore, is unlikely at this point and the Lilywhites may have to set their sights on other alternatives including the latest target Jonas Hofmann.
