Tottenham eyeing Chiesa at a bargain basement price
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Juventus ace Chiesa in the ongoing summer transfer window. The links to the former Fiorentina ace come amid the necessity to compound on the offensive side of the roster going into the upcoming campaign.
The Italian international is in the final year of his current contract at Juventus, and he has been speculated to bid adieu to the Turin-based side this summer. The player has been frequently linked with a move away from the Italian giants, and that could come through in the ongoing window.
Chiesa has suffered from consistent injury problems that have proven to be a hurdle in his time at Juventus. He has been pulled aside by new Juve boss Thiago Motta and has been training alone after returning late from his delayed holidays because of his involvement in the European Championships across the summer.
Bearish price tag
Initially, it was expected that a move for the Italian international would cost somewhere around €25-30 million, which in itself is a bargain fee owing to Bianconeri’s keenness on selling his services this summer, complemented by the fact that his contract with Juve would run out in less than twelve months.
Interest at large was expected in his signatures; however, that has not been the case, and Chiesa’s current employers have reduced their asking price in a bid to dispose of the 26-year-old this summer.
Juventus are willing to sell Chiesa for as little as €15-17m (£12.8-14.5m) with a sell-on clause attached.
The contrary reports
The player’s agent is in London trying to get his client a move to the Premier League as he offers Chiesa’s services to Chelsea and Tottenham, per Corriere dello Sport, for the winger who was dubbed as ‘unstoppable‘ by his former club and country teammate Giorgio Chiellini.
There is ample inconsistency surrounding Chiesa’s situation at the moment. Everything pointed at Tottenham securing a move for the Italian international, which got Tottenham fans on the edge of their seats.
However, as Spurs fans rejoiced, Alasdair Gold of Football. London suggested that such rumours are baseless and there is ‘no truth’ behind the speculations.
Meanwhile, SportMediaSet via CalcioNapoli24 came out with a contradictory report suggesting that a possible transfer worth between £25.3m and £29.5m was close to completion.
On paper, signing someone with Chiesa’s potential at the €15-17m price band is a bargain. While he does have injury concerns that drag like his shadow, at that price it is worth taking a risk.
A Mohamed Salah-esque impact
The parallels can be drawn here. Salah came to Liverpool from a Serie A club – Roma and has gone on to become arguably the best winger in the Premier League at the moment. His impact for the Reds under Jurgen Klopp has been incredible and he continues to be a key part of the Merseyside club.
Salah was 25 when he came back to the Premier League. Chiesa is 26 and yet to enter what is usually considered the prime years of a footballer’s career. Much like Salah was, the Italian also comes in with a truckload of experience and has the ability to perform in big, knock-out games as we saw in the Euros 2020.
Chiesa, at his best, is unplayable, much like Salah for Liverpool. He can chip in equally with goals and assists. He can even do something that his Egyptian counterpart can’t and that is playing equally well on either wing. The 32-year-old sticks purely to the right wing but Chiesa is different.
Tottenham need a Salah-esque signing to propel Ange Postecoglou’s project to the next level. If he can rediscover his best level, Chiesa has the ability to do just that. Signing him on an absolute bargain is a low risk, high reward signing for the club. So, could Spurs go and get their own Mo Salah this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
