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Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a formal bid for Roma midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, per Tuttosport via Sport Witness.

What’s the word?

Spurs are seemingly set for a summer of investment as they look to improve on the club’s top-four finish in the Premier League and their run to the Champions League final.

A number of players have been linked with a move; Lyon and Real Betis midfielders Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso are both targets, per the London Evening Standard.

Zaniolo is an attacking midfielder who can also play on the right wing and the report states that Spurs are “pressing” to complete the signing.

They have yet to table a formal bid, however, but an offer between €45m (£39.8m) and €50m (£44.3m) is in the offing.

Zaniolo made 36 appearances in all competitions in 2018/19, scoring six goals and laying on two assists. He has also won two caps for Italy.

A negotiating tactic?

This feels like it could be a smokescreen thrown up by chairman Daniel Levy.

If the club really are attempting to sign both Ndombele and Lo Celso, it doesn’t make a great deal of sense for them to sign Zaniolo too.

A mooted move, then, could be designed to bring Lyon and Betis to the negotiating table.

After all, if they sign Zaniolo, it tracks that both clubs risk missing out on a hefty payday.

Even if what is seemingly a clever tactic from Levy does not pan out the way he intended, the Lilywhites will be in an excellent position to secure the signing of Zaniolo instead.

But, at this stage, it certainly appears that he is a back-up option.