Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keeping tabs on Atalanta playmaker, Ruslan Malinovskyi, having previously been heavily linked with the Ukrainian gem over the summer.
What's the word?
According to football.london's Alasdair Gold, the 29-year-old is a player that the north Londoners have 'looked at' amid their search for new attacking additions, with sporting director Fabio Paratici seemingly aiming to bolster the Lilywhites' forward line.
The report suggests that manager Antonio Conte was left 'frustrated' by his lack of options in that department earlier this season due to injury, with the loss of Dejan Kulusevski and summer signing Richarlison having left the forward ranks looking particularly threadbare.
As for Malinovskyi, recent reports in Italy have claimed that Paratici has already made contact to sign the 51-cap gem - who could command a fee of around £26m - with the forward having previously been "wanted" by the Premier League outfit in the summer, as per journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Repeat Kulusevski masterclass
A move for the "decisive" ace - as described by current boss Gian Piero Gasperini - could well prove to be an astute addition as far those in N17 are concerned, with the 5-foot-11 sensation able to offer real quality in the final third.
That is showcased by the fact that the former Genk man - who arrived in Bergamo back in 2019 - has netted 30 goals and provided 28 assists in 142 games for his current side thus far, having previously scored 30 goals and laid on 32 assists during his previous stint in Belgium.
While the experienced asset has only recorded three goal involvements so far this term in Serie A, the £21k-per-week ace still compares favourably to those in his position across Europe, notably illustrating his creative brilliance as he ranks in the top 3% for progressive passes, as well as in the top 7% for shot-creating actions.
The versatile ace - who can feature all across the frontline or in a midfield role - also has the dynamism to help drive his side forward from deep, as he ranks in the top 16% for dribbles completed as a marker of his ball-playing brilliance.
A player who Conte would seemingly love due to his ability to feature in "multiple systems" - as described by transfer insider Dean Jones - Malinovskyi could well prove to be another astute capture as far as Paratici is concerned, with the Italian having previously worked his magic in the January window earlier this year.
That winter market saw the former Juventus transfer chief notably secure a loan swoop for Dejan Kulusevski from the Allianz Stadium, with the Sweden international having gone on to thrive in English football since then, providing 19 goal contributions in just 32 games thus far.
The "exemplary" 22-year-old - as described by pundit Paul Robinson - made an instant impact following his move to Tottenham in the second half of last term, helping to steer Conte's men into the top four after contributing five goals and eight assists in just 18 appearances.
The hope will be that by bringing in the aforementioned Malinovskyi in the New Year the new addition can have a similar impact to that of the current loanee, with the Italian market having already proven fruitful for the club of late.
If Paratici can repeat his Kulusevski masterclass when the window re-opens in just over a month's time, then Spurs could well be in for a real treat.