Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for Nicolo Zaniolo in the coming days...
What's the word?
That's because sporting director Fabio Paratici has landed in Italy this week as he looks to sort out several transfers, in which the AS Roma star could feature in his plans.
"Fabio Paratici arrived in Milan: Thursday summit with Milan for [Japhet] Tanganga. Possible Italian solutions for [Bryan] Gil (like Sampdoria). But also incoming targets like Zaniolo," Calciomercato journalist Daniele Longo tweeted.
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The 23-year-old attacking midfielder should be a name familiar with Spurs supporters as he has been linked with a move to north London on several occasions - last summer, Corriere dello Sport revealed that Tottenham once had a bid rejected for him (via Sport Witness).
Roma are expected to receive between €40m (£34m) to €50m (£42.5m) for his signature.
Conte dream
It's believed that manager Antonio Conte is open to the signing of a new no.10, a playmaker of sorts, and that's what he could well find in Zaniolo, who is also capable of playing on the wing and deeper in the engine room.
Thus making him something of a dream signing for the Italian head coach.
The versatile midfield dynamo has struggled with injuries in Rome over the course of his career so far but that hasn't stopped him from registering 37 goal contributions across 111 appearances, as per Transfermarkt.
Once on the books at Inter Milan, the Italy international certainly looked back to his best under former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho last season, not just playing a total of 42 games but he also delivered an eye-catching eight goals and nine assists.
The likes of Said Benrahma, Adama Traore and Wilfried Zaha are all comparable players in the same sort of statistical profile, according to FBref, so that could hint towards Zaniolo being an instant success in the Premier League, given the experience and quality of the top-flight trio.
Elsewhere, the Roma sensation has received plenty of praise, perhaps the most glowing came from his former Inter coach, Stefano Vecchi, who compared him to Frank Lampard.
"He has the characteristics to become a modern mezzala. He's a [Steven] Gerrard, [Frank] Lampard-type player," he said (via GOAL).
Meanwhile, Roma legend Francesco Totti has lauded the £34m-rated maestro as "explosive" and believes he has "everything it takes to become a truly great player".
Paratici could not only fill the massive no.10 void at Hotspur Way by signing Zaniolo but he may also hand his manager a versatile talent with bags of potential, strength and pace.
As such, the Lilywhites sporting director must come away from his meetings in Milan with a deal in place for Zaniolo as he would add an abundance of quality to this ever-evolving Spurs squad.
He's surely something of a dream signing this summer transfer window.
AND in other news, Paratici plotting Spurs bid for "extraordinary" £80m sensation, it would leave Arteta fuming...