Player has ‘expressed his choice’ – Wants to join Tottenham this month, talks taking place

The Nicolo Zaniolo situation continues to rumble on in Italy, with the 23-year-old said to have asked AS Roma to sell him this month.

There had been efforts to extend the attacker’s contract, which ends in June 2024, but the situation has clearly hit a dead end and it’s now a case of finding a way out.

Tottenham Hotspur have been repeatedly linked with the player, and Sunday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport reports Roma will sell, and they set out the Serie A side’s negotiating position.

Roma’s initial demand is for €40m, but they’ll accept €30m so long as it’s guaranteed. They’ll even allow a loan first, but that loan must include a compulsory purchase clause.

Tottenham, West Ham and Leicester City are mentioned but none of those have offered what Roma want. Spurs are thought to be clearly in the lead, and yesterday they had fresh contact with Claudio Vigorelli, the player’s agent.

Zaniolo himself is said to have ‘expressed his choice’ and wants to play for Antonio Conte at Tottenham.

Gazzetta dello Sport state: ‘Tottenham are ready to reach even €30m, perhaps with bonuses, but to trigger the obligation they want to insert the qualification clause for the Champions League. And Roma have already said no, despite the fact that Vigorelli is ready to fly to London in the upcoming week.’