Tottenham’s clash over the reduced pay of a top striker has led the club to strike a deal for an Italian striker in a position where Angel Postecoglou is already well stocked, while a highly touted youngster has left for an undisclosed payment.
The Australian has made strengthening his team’s spine his most sensible priority in the summer move window, with Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall already signed to bolster the midfield engine room.
It is also no secret that Postecoglou needs a centre-back to cover Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin, while the need for a more prolific number 9 remains critical.
However, if he seems like a quality option for a payment that the club deems too smart to refuse, then Tottenham are in a position to act. And that’s largely the case in terms of interest in Juventus and Italy striker Federico Chiesa.
Tutto Mercato Web claims that the north London side sees Chiesa as a bargain, even though they had no plans to pursue his signing this summer.
The 26-year-old’s wonderful availability for a payout of just €25m (£21m) is seen as an offer not to be missed.
Chiesa, who is said to be pushing for a move to England, interest from Manchester United and Chelsea may yet put a damper in Tottenham’s wheels.
The winger has less than 12 months left on his contract at the Allianz Stadium, hence the explanation for his strangely low price.
Juventus spent £54m to sign the Italian from Fiorentina in October 2020 and Tutto Mercato Web claims that his agent, Fali Ramadani, is lately in London holding talks with Tottenham about his client’s next move, following the failure of negotiations with Roma. .
The report states that Spurs are the club that seems to have the most interest in Chiesa, at the moment.
TMW adds that Postecoglou had no initial plans to sign a striker like Chiesa, so it will be attractive to see where he fits into Tottenham’s starting eleven if he arrives in the capital.
Chiesa is at least flexible and can function in various positions between Postecoglou’s three forwards, as well as as as an attacking midfielder.
His potential addition would likely mean Tottenham plan to use Son Heng-min in the middle of defense and allow Chiesa to start on the left, a position from which he can be lethal when cutting into his favored right foot.
The Italian played a lot in the center for Juve last season and scored a total of 10 goals with 3 assists in 37 games in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have officially announced that the player has left the club as Postecoglou continues to shape his first team for the new campaign.
The club’s academy account tweeted on Tuesday that 21-year-old midfielder Yago Santiago had been sold to Spanish second team Elche. The move-in payment is not disclosed.
Santiago joined Tottenham’s academy from Celta Vigo aged 16 in 2019 and created a real stir among the club’s young ranks, making a breakthrough.
Last season he performed well in Premier League 2, scoring 8 goals and seven assists as an attacking midfielder and was hoping for a chance to shine in pre-season.
However, with so many talents chasing positions in midfield, adding Gray, Bergvall and Alfie Devine, Santiago still looked like he was facing a futile battle.
Now he will have the chance to shine in the Spanish Second Division, with some reports implying that a selling case has been added as the club looks to cover its back going forward.