Despite positive messages from the Italian media regarding Tottenham’s interest for Patrik Schick, it appears the Czech Republic international could be slipping through Mauricio Pochettino’s hands.
Firstly, as we correctly predicted, there is the small matter of Sampdoria being close to improving his current contract, as they attempt to increase his release clause from €25m to €40m.
At €25m, the 21-year-old was a good deal for most interested clubs, especially for a club like Tottenham, yet were that to increase by €15m, a few questions need to be asked.
Is he ready to make the big jump after just one season in a top league? And is 13 goals enough to justify such a hefty price?
Secondly, there is the small problem that Schick doesn’t want to leave Italy yet, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday.
With plenty of bigger Italian clubs like Napoli, Roma, Inter Milan and Juventus all interested in his services, the young forward has a nice list to pick from if he wants to try something better than Sampdoria without moving too far.
Spurs were said to have already met with his agent, suggesting they could be in the lead to acquire his services in the summer, but with few details of the talks filtering through, there is also a chance of them being told ‘not yet’ by his representatives.
Sampdoria seem resigned to the fact they could very well lose their starlet in the coming months, but a £30m+ profit in the process should soften the blow.
One thing is becoming clearer, though: White Hart Lane is unlikely to be Schick’s next destination.
