Tottenham are planning a £20m bid for Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli
As there are just two weeks left for the summer transfer window to slam shut, Tottenham Hotspur must amp up their pursuit of players, especially the ones that can immediately make an impact in the starting XI.
Dominic Solanke has been roped in, while the Lilywhites have surprised everyone by striking a deal with Burnley for winger Wilson Odobert. Having now brought in a wide forward as well in the form of Odobert—subject to formalities—Tottenham will shift their focus towards signing a central midfielder.
According to a report from Football Insider, Tottenham are contemplating a dream swoop for Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli before the transfer window closes down at the end of the month.
Despite signing Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray from Djurgardens and Leeds United, respectively, Spurs’ youth and lack of experience means that there is room for the arrival of an experienced head in the middle of the park.
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Moreover, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has left the club to join Marseille, Giovani Lo Celso is not in the head coach’s plans moving forward and Oliver Skipp is expected to depart on loan this month, which makes it critical for Spurs to recruit an experienced central midfielder. And that player could very well be Manuel Locatelli.
The aforementioned report adds that Juventus are open to selling Manuel Locatelli for £ 20 million this summer. Spurs are understood to be preparing a bid for the Juventus midfielder, who is under contract until 2028.
It hasn’t quite worked out at Juventus for Locatelli since arriving at the club in the summer of 2021—initially on loan. The Italy international’s three years with the Old Lady has been a mixed bag at best, even though he has made 132 appearances across all competitions.
Despite having a contract until 2028 (Transfermarkt), Juventus’s willingness to part ways with the 26-year-old for a meagre £20million is an indication that new boss Thiago Motta doesn’t consider him central to his plans. This has given Spurs a massive opportunity to swoop in for Locatelli, who is deemed a potential replacement for Hojbjerg.
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Able to operate in a role in the heart of the engine room or in a deeper role in front of the back four, Locatelli’s presence makes him standout out in an array of bodies. The Lecco-born talent has played at the highest level for many years and his winning mentality could rub on the Tottenham squad in he arrives.
As the Turin giants are open to offloading Locatelli off their books, Spurs must not let this opportunity slip away from their hands and try their best to bring him to north London.
