Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici could be about to rectify one of Daniel Levy's more recent transfer blunders...
What's the word?
According to the Evening Standard, the Premier League side are to turn their attentions to signing a creative player after agreeing a deal for Atalanta centre-back Cristian Romero.
And there's an interesting name on their shortlist, former Hotspur Way academy player Noni Madueke.
It's claimed that Spurs are monitoring the 19-year-old attacker ahead of a potential move to bring him back to the club, although they face competition from across Europe.
The likes of Bayern Munich and Leeds United have been mooted by the report.
Bring him home!
It certainly seems like Levy made a premature decision to let the England U21 international leave in June 2018, especially for nothing, as he's only gone on to thrive ever since.
As per the Evening Standard, Madueke's value is ever-increasing with his impressive performances, whilst the departure of Donyell Malen to Borussia Dortmund is another factor driving up his price.
Transfermarkt value the teenager at just £14.4m but just last month, The Sun revealed PSV had a £20m asking price and were desperate to keep hold of the English starlet.
Madueke enjoyed quite the breakthrough last season. In 32 appearances (11 starts), he provided nine goals and eight assists, averaging a direct goal contribution once every 75 minutes, via Transfermarkt.
[snack-amp-story url= "https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-team-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-much-more-copy" title= "Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours, gossip and much more!"]
To put that into more of a perspective, Harry Kane's 33 goals and 17 assists during 2020/21 were achieved at a rate of one every 79.6 minutes.
That form already looks to have continued into the new campaign as he's bagged two goals and provided one assist across PSV's three Champions League qualifiers so far.
Ex-Dutch midfielder Tommie van der Leegte describes the 19-year-old as "explosive", which would back up comments from former England U21 head coach Aidy Boothroyd, who believes he's a "powerhouse of a player."
"Technically very good, left-footed and likes to come in off the side of the pitch, off the right and go and link. He’s got a goal in him, he's very creative. He’s got a massive smile, a lovely kid. The lads have taken to him, as they would because he’s a good player, he has that respect for what he’s done at PSV."
Indeed, if Spurs are looking for that creative ace, then Boothroyd's endorsement shows exactly why they may be looking to the Eredivisie for the solution.
The English winger averaged 1.6 key passes per 90 minutes in the Dutch top-flight last term, which was more than Kane (1.4), Giovani Lo Celso (1.4), Lucas Moura (one) and even Tanguy Ndombele (0.8), as per WhoScored.
Paratici must look to seal a move for the £20m-rated gem this summer. In doing so, he'd be righting one of Levy's big mistakes.
AND in other news, Imagine him and Kane: Spurs eyeing "complete" £36m-rated goal machine...