The door may have opened for Tottenham Hotspur to make their move for Manuel Locatelli this summer...

What's the word?

Earlier this month, the North London outfit became the latest team to be linked with the Sassuolo midfielder alongside Mauricio Pochettino's Paris Saint-Germain as well as Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, as per Gazzetta dello Sport.

It's thought that it'll cost €40m (£36m) to secure the 23-year-old, who is currently starring for Italy at Euro 2020, and that Spurs' new sporting director Fabio Paratici is familiar with the potential dynamics of any deal, having been at Juventus for 11 years.

Now, it seems like his former club are holding back on their attempts to secure him ahead of the aforementioned sides.

Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims that Locatelli is still a priority in Turin but the club's hierarchy have postponed talks with Sassuolo next week, thus giving Spurs an opening if they truly wish to sign him.

It's said that the Neroverdi aren't impressed with Juventus' offers so far, too.

Paratici must strike

If Paratici and the rest of the Lilywhites boardroom are watching Euro 2020 right now, then they'll know that Locatelli has emerged as one of the stars of the tournament so far.

The £36m-rated dynamo has featured in three of Italy's four matches so far and particularly shone by scoring a brace during their group A clash with quarter-finalists Switzerland, who have just dumped favourites France out of the competition.

Locatelli has merely continued his fine form from his domestic campaign, where he rated out as Sassuolo's second-best player (7.08), as per WhoScored figures.

It's evident that the 6 foot 1 midfielder is a box-to-box animal as he also averaged a whopping 2.4 tackles and 1.5 interceptions on top of four goals, two assists, 1.2 shots and 1.1 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

That's an ideal mix of being defensively sound and very intelligent too.

Locatelli has previously been lauded as "a real dominator in midfield" and a "maestro", and that should come as no surprise going on the above evidence.

Eurosport Italy journalist Carlofillipo Vardelli has deemed him "the complete midfielder," adding: "He knows how to start attacks, with two touches, he knows how to carry the ball, he is quick in distribution and he is flexible. Locatelli knows how to play both in a two-man midfield and in a three-man midfield."

Spurs may not have their next manager in place yet, with the search rumbling into a third month but a threat from midfield at either end of the pitch is something they have lacked for quite some time.

The Italy sensation would clearly be a stellar addition to the current Spurs squad and with Juventus delaying talks, there won't be a better time for Paratici and co to make their move.

He has the potential to be their most exciting signing since Heung-min Son, especially if his Euro 2020 showing is anything to go by.

AND in other news, Fresh twist emerges in Spurs' manager search, it'll surely leave fans buzzing...