Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a massive boost in their pursuit of mooted transfer target Andrea Belotti this week…
What’s the word?
During the summer transfer window, the north London outfit were reportedly ‘observing’ the 27-year-old’s situation as he entered the final year of his current contract at Serie A outfit Torino, as per Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness).
They were once again linked ahead of January and now it seems as if they have been gifted their biggest boost yet, should sporting director Fabio Paratici still retain such interest.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Bulls have offered him a new deal but nothing has been agreed, as he also relayed comments from club president Urbano Cairo, who said: “I don’t see big chances to extend his contract, but we’ll see.”
Should they swoop?
It would not be a surprise to see Spurs make a move for a striker in the near future, considering an out-of-form Harry Kane is their only senior option. He’s scored just once in the Premier League all season and that has to be a cause for concern to manager Antonio Conte.
Belotti is increasingly likely to be available for nothing in the summer, and that means foreign clubs like Tottenham can submit pre-contract offers to the Torino talisman as early as January.
Valued at a whopping £31.5m by Transfermarkt, the Italy international would be quite the steal, especially fresh off the back of winning Euro 2020. He has proven to be a very prolific goalscorer over recent times.
The forward has bagged double figures in every season since 2015/16, including a career-best tally of 28 goals in the 2016/17 campaign, via Transfermarkt.
Ex-Spurs shot-stopper Joe Hart briefly played with Belotti at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino and described the frontman as a unique talent, different to the big names we usually see mentioned across Europe.
“Andrea is similar to all the great strikers, English and not. It’s hard to compare him to someone else because he’s special,” he lauded to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio. “He’s Belotti and that’s it. He has [an] instinct for goals, personality and he’s a team player: he’s always focused on his team and plays hard to help it.”
Things have not gone to plan for him this campaign, managing only two goals and five starts, but injuries have somewhat hampered his season so far and that doesn’t take away from his impressive and consistent goalscoring record over the years; not to mention his role as captain, either.
It’s evident that Spurs are in desperate need of alternatives to the misfiring Kane and Belotti could be a bargain solution, even more so after the door has seemingly opened for them to strike a deal at the turn of the year.
Paratici and Conte should act after this latest development from Romano. They have been gifted a massive boost, so it would be foolish to not at least try and lure the Italian to north London.
AND in other news, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge drops Spurs update on Joe Rodon…