Tottenham have tabled a bid worth £43.1million in an effort to sign Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo, according to Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira.
The Italian reporter claimed via his personal Twitter account on Thursday that Roma owner James Pallotta does not want to sell Zaniolo, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is holding negotiations about signing the 19-year-old Italy international.
#Tottenham is really interested in Nicolò #Zaniolo. #Spurs have offered €50M to #Roma, but Pallotta wouldn’t want to sell him. Talks ongoing between Daniel Levy and Franco Baldini. #transfers #THFC
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) April 25, 2019
Zaniolo signed a five-year deal with Roma when he joined them from Inter Milan last summer and he has since become a key player in the first team at the Stadio Olimpico.
Good move for Tottenham?
Zaniolo is an extremely gifted young player and Tottenham fans should definitely be thrilled if Levy is able to snap him up in the summer transfer window.
The attacking midfielder has scored six goals and supplied two assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this season for Roma, with two of his goals coming in the Champions League when he bagged a brace against Porto in the knock-out stages.
He made his debut for the Italy national team in March and it seems as though he is a real star in the making.
Spurs need to add to their midfield in the summer and with doubts surrounding the future of Christian Eriksen, Zaniolo could be a good young replacement for the Dane.
This is Futbol rating 9/10
Likely to happen?
Roma appear to have rejected Tottenham’s opening bid of £43.1million and they do not appear to be under any pressure to cash in on the Italy international because he still has over four years left on the contract he signed last summer.
Levy is in talks with Roma, but he is bound to walk away from the negotiating table if he has to offer up too much money for the teenage sensation.
It seems unlikely that Spurs will be able to strike a deal this summer.
This is Futbol rating 2/10