Tottenham have reportedly held talks with Nikola Milenkovic’s agent as Antonio Conte weighs up a bargain move for the Fiorentina centre-back.
According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, as relayed by Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly emerged as front-runners in the chase for Nikola Milenkovic, and are in direct contact with the Fiorentine defender’s agent, who is set to intensify talks with the north Londoners.
The Tottenham hierarchy have dug deep into their pockets to bolster Antonio Conte’s squad, with Spurs bringing in six major signings ahead of the new season. The Italian tactician is overhauling his backline and has already snapped up Clement Lenglet (on loan) from Barcelona, while Djed Spence and Ivan Perisic have also come through the door.
However, following the departures of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Joe Rodon, and with Japhet Tanganga also tipped to leave this month, it appears Tottenham are still in the market for another central defender. Moreover, there is a school of thought that Spurs’ defence could be their Achilles heel when it comes to competing with Liverpool and Manchester City.
So, it would not be a surprising if Spurs add another defender to their roster before the summer transfer window slams shut, with Fabio Paratici exploring the Serie A market to find a potential solution. Recent reports have claimed that Tottenham are in contention to sign Nikola Milenkovic. And it seems they are keen to step up their pursuit, with Tuttosport claiming that the player’s agent, Fali Ramadani, is ‘intensifying’ talks with them.
Milenkovic has been with Fiorentina since 2017, having signed from his boyhood club, Partizan Belgrade. Over the years, the towering defender has developed into one of the best centre-backs in Serie A. The 24-year-old has been hugely impressive during his time with La Viola, making over 170 appearances for them. And he has been linked with an exit for months now.
The Serbian international has just one year left on his contract at Stadio Artemio Franchi and has shown no interest in penning an extension. As a result, Fiorentina are ready to cash in on their prized asset for a cut-price fee in the region of €15 million rather than lose him for nothing this time next summer.
Tottenham are said to be the leading candidate in the race to sign Milenkovic, with Conte thought to be a big admirer of the 24-year-old defender. Serie A giants Juventus and Inter Milan also have Milenkovic on their wish list this summer.
Milenkovic stood out as a colossal defensive presence for Fiorentina in Serie A last term and could be a shrewd cost-effective option for Spurs. He has proven his quality in Italy, and he possesses the physicality, and ball-playing attributes to excel in the Premier League as well.
The well-rounded defender can play on the right side of a three or centrally, so he is likely to fit Conte’s system straightaway. At 24, Milenkovic is relatively young and has a lot of room for improvement. Add to that the cheap price-tag placed on the Serb, this could prove to be a smart investment by Tottenham if they can lure him to north London.
