Tottenham Hotspur chief Fabio Paratici and their manager, Antonio Conte, are admirers of Nicolò Zaniolo, and they tried signing him when they were at Juventus and Inter Milan respectively.
The duo now want to sign the AS Roma star for the north London club this summer.
Tuttosport explain Tottenham are serious about the winger and are ‘determined to put the arrow’, when they face Roma.
José Mourinho’s side will play Spurs in the pre-season friendly tie in Israel on July 30th. This tie will give the Premier League side an opportunity to overtake Juventus in the race to sign the 23-year-old.
After recent contacts, the game will give Paratici a new opportunity to meet Roma chief Tiago Pinto, ‘with the aim of finding a good compromise for Zaniolo’.
The Italy international’s desire is to continue in Serie A and his preference is to join Juve. At the same time, he is ‘anything but insensitive’ to the charm of the Premier League and above all, Conte’s charisma.
Tuttosport state: ‘Tottenham’s moves don’t stop Juventus, who remain in the running, but they certainly make the path more tortuous and riskier. If Spurs, which at the moment are the most Italian team in the Premier League, were to sink decisively, a change of plans by him cannot be ruled out. Zaniolo has not lost his patience and always trusts in a Juve blitz, but he would not want to wait indefinitely – and in vain – for the Bianconeri. And Milan remains in the background.’
Juventus are aware of Tottenham’s interest in the attacker and continue to monitor his situation.
Federico Cherubini, the Old Lady’s sporting director, met Pinto at the end of June and the two have discussed various formulas to carry out a deal for Zaniolo.
