Tottenham Hotspur have been pushed forward as the main contender to sign Nicolò Zaniolo after AS Roma decided to make him available in the market.
On Friday, Sport Mediaset explained the winger has said ‘yes’ to Spurs as the idea of playing under Antonio Conte attracts him.
Gianluca Di Marzio now provides the background on the 23-year-old’s decision to leave the club, and also about Tottenham interest.
“Zaniolo in the last few days, speaking with Mourinho, has made it known that he doesn’t have the right serenity to be available because at the moment he has his head in the transfer market,” Di Marzio told Sky Italia, relayed by ASRomaLive.it.
“He wants to leave, Roma have opened up to the sale if important offers arrive. Roma reiterate they only want to sell him, at most on loan with a secure and unconditional obligation.
“The only one that has taken concrete steps is Tottenham, but under the conditions imposed by Roma, it is currently not being done.”
West Ham are also in the picture, but their formula to sign the Italy international has been rejected by José Mourinho’s side.
That’s according to Calciomercato, who further explain Zaniolo’s agent Claudio Vigorelli will ‘continue to negotiate’ with Tottenham. It’s claimed Spurs are willing to take the player on loan with an obligation to buy if certain conditions are met.
Another Italian journalist, Alfredo Pedullà, told Sportitalia that the north London club have made the ‘first offer’ to sign the attacker this month.
“There was a negotiation for Zaniolo before and one after the sentence of Paratici. He will not be called up for Spezia and if Roma were to ask for a redemption obligation, it would be a big problem from February 1st onwards. He would become a big problem from there onwards for [Roma’s] management until May,” Pedullà said.
“At 19:00 today [Friday], Tottenham had offered an expensive loan with the obligation to buy linked to qualification in the Champions League or seven/eight goals plus assists from Zaniolo. Roma did not accept this offer.”
Zaniolo is keen to leave Roma and his agent negotiates with Tottenham. If Spurs were to make a convincing proposal to the Italian club, a deal can be concluded in January.
