Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Ruslan Malinovskyi to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), who claim that Fabio Paratici has already made contact with Atalanta BC president Antonio Percassi regarding a move for the versatile attacking midfielder this winter, with the Serie A side said to be willing to part with the 29-year-old for an offer of €30m (£26m).

This is not the first time Spurs have been linked with the Ukraine international, with Antonio Conte's side also reported to have been interested in a move for the playmaker in the summer, a switch which Malinovskyi was said to have been open to.

Kulusevski 2.0

Considering just how impressive Malinovskyi has been for Atalanta in recent seasons, coupled with the fact that Conte is currently lacking a truly forward-thinking midfielder in the heart of his Spurs side, it is easy to see why Paratici would be keen on a deal to bring the Ukrainian sensation to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January.

Indeed, according to FBref, the £24.5m-rated talent currently ranks in the top 14% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe's big five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, in addition to the top 7% for shots, the top 22% for assists and the top 10% for shot creating actions over the last 365 days - proving just how deadly the 28-year-old is in the final third.

For comparison, FBref currently rank Dejan Kulusevski in the top 40% for non-penalty goals per 90, as well as the bottom 29% for shots, the top 2% for assists and the bottom 47% for shot-creating actions over the past 12 months.

Furthermore, the £19k-per-week Malinovskyi also ranks in the top 21% for passes attempted per 90, in addition to the top 3% for progressive passes, the top 14% for dribbles completed and the top 9% for xAG - xG which follows a pass that assists a shot - over the last year.

For comparison once again, Spurs' Swedish sensation ranks in the bottom 26% for passes attempted per 90, as well as the bottom 28% for progressive passes, the top 27% for dribbles completed and the top 37% for xAG over the last 365 days.

Further still, with Ryan Talyor dubbing the Atalanta star a "Conte-type player" who can "play in multiple systems" - something that is evidenced by Malinovskyi's ability to play in central or attacking midfield, as well as on the left wing - it would certainly appear as if the 28-year-old would be something of a dream fit for the Italian's 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 set-ups in north London.

As such, landing the 51-cap star who Josh Bunting claimed has a "stunning left foot" for a fee of just £26m in January would very much appear a huge coup for Tottenham, as it is clear to see that Malinovskyi is exactly the type of player Conte is missing at present, with the Ukrainian sensation potentially being Paratici's next Kulusevski-esque find from Italy.