Transfer News: Tottenham Hotspur could extend loan deal for Atalanta star Pierluigi Gollini
According to journalist Charlie Eccleshare of The Athletic (Subscription Required), Tottenham Hotspur could decide to extend the loan deal of Atalanta star Pierluigi Gollini past this summer transfer window. His minutes have largely been reduced to cup competitions, and his long term future at N17 is still doubtful as of now.
Gollini had joined Tottenham on a season-long loan transfer last summer, which means that he is in line to return to Italy after this season. There was an option included in the deal to buy him permanently for £12.9million in transfer fees. However, it appears that the clause will not be triggered.
What’s more, it is now claimed that that buy option would have been activated automatically if the Italian had made 20 appearances for Spurs this term. However, since the threshold has not been hit, he is set to return to his parent club, although the English side could decide to keep him on loan for another season.
Should Gollini stay at Spurs?
The 27-year-old has featured in ten games for the North Londoners this campaign and has just earned two clean sheets in the process. What’s more, he also conceded eleven times during that spell which does not showcase any excellent showings from the shot-stopper.
While La Dea loanee is a decent option as a backup goalkeeper, Antonio Conte’s side should only try to extend his loan spell if there are no ideal replacements in the market. That seems to be not the case, as Sam Johnstone has been linked with a move to N17 after this season.
Moreover, Johnstone will also be available on a free transfer this summer, making him a much more attractive prospect than Gollini. The former is a solid option indeed, and with Manchester United pulling out of the transfer race, Tottenham have been handed a free run at the shot-stopper.
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If Johnstone agrees to move to North London, then it would be wise for the club to prefer his signing over Gollini’s loan extension. After all, we could potentially get our hands on a solid goalkeeper permanently without even spending any sum on transfer fees.
As such, perhaps it would be best to let Gollini return at the end of this term. Then again, Conte should be given the final say, so it will be interesting to see what decision he would take regarding his goalkeeping positions.
