Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte wants to sign Nicolo Zaniolo from AS Roma before the summer transfer window closes, according to reports...
What's the word?
Italian journalist Xavier Jacobelli delivered an update on the situation to Radio Radio (via Tutto Juve), he said:
"Zaniolo depends on Tottenham. Since when and how the English club wants to move. They have so much money. Conte wants Zaniolo at Tottenham, he values him very much."
The north London side have been linked with a move for the attacking midfielder for several weeks and it's believed that the Serie A outfit would sell the Italy international for around £50m.
Eriksen's true heir
It's no secret that Spurs are in the market for a creative influence in the engine room and it's easy to see why as it has been something they have lacked ever since the departure of Christian Eriksen back in January 2020.
Over a seven-year spell in N17, the Danish playmaker provided the team with 69 goals and 90 assists across 305 appearances, averaging one direct contribution every 151 minutes, via Transfermarkt.
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Such form led to some high praise indeed - journalist Josh Wright dubbed him a "wizard," whilst his former manager Mauricio Pochettino once lauded him as a "special person" too.
Since his departure two-and-a-half years ago, the likes of Tanguy Ndombele (one contribution every 272 minutes) and Giovani Lo Celso (one contribution every 326 minutes) have failed to step up, with Dele Alli even being sold.
The £150k-per-week playmaker is now at Premier League rivals Manchester United, having enjoyed a six-month spell at Brentford last campaign.
Zaniolo would be an intriguing candidate to fill that void at Hotspur Way heading into the final two weeks of the summer transfer window.
The 23-year-old, who is capable of playing through the middle as a no.10 or second striker as well as out on the right flank, provided the Giallorossi with eight goals and nine assists last season as they clinched the Europa Conference League trophy.
That's either better or close to what both Lo Celso and Ndombele have managed in their three years at the club.
His ability to deliver from a deep-lying midfield role has seen the Italian dynamo compared to both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, whilst journalist Zach Lowry once labelled him a "lethal playmaker" and the "crown jewel" of Roma.
Over the last two Serie A campaigns, Zaniolo has averaged at least 1.3 key passes per 90, highlighting his ability to get on the ball and create in the final third. And when compared to his positional peers across Europe, the £75k-per-week star ranks inside the top 6% for total shots (3.25 per 90) and the top 16% for touches in the opposition's box (5.67 per 90).
Therefore, it would make sense to follow up Conte's demands to sign Zaniolo as he could well emerge as the true heir to Eriksen's throne at Tottenham Hotspur.
It'll have taken a while but if the Italian head coach wants him, then sporting director Fabio Paratici ought to deliver for the benefit of the club.
AND in other news, After Udogie: Spurs plotting swoop for £17m "playmaker", he's better than Zaniolo...