Tottenham tipped to steer clear of Aleksandar Stankovic.
European football expert Andy Brassell has questioned why Tottenham would pursue Aleksandar Stankovic, suggesting the club already have similar midfielders on their books with Joao Palhinha’s future still to be resolved.
The 20-year-old defensive midfielder, son of Inter Milan legend Dejan Stankovic, has impressed in his breakthrough season at Club Brugge after leaving his father’s former club last summer without making a senior appearance for the Nerazzurri. Recent reports from Italy claim both Tottenham and Newcastle are monitoring the Serbian international, who has already made 26 appearances this season with a goal and an assist.
Stankovic’s vindication in leaving Inter has been emphatic. He captained Inter’s youth side but opted to forge his own path in Belgium, playing the entirety of Brugge’s epic 3-3 draw with Barcelona and featuring in Serbia’s 2-0 loss to England last month. His older brother Filip, currently impressing as a goalkeeper at Serie B side Venezia, blazed a similar trail away from the Inter academy.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Brassell questioned the logic behind Tottenham’s reported interest given their current midfield options. He stated (h/t talkSPORT):
“When you look at those clubs that have been linked with him, I don’t know why Spurs would want another of that type of midfielder, if I’m being perfectly honest. He’s a better set-piece deliverer than either Palhinha or Bentancur. But I think you look at them and think, do they need another player like that?”
Thomas Frank’s side still have the option to make Palhinha’s loan from Bayern Munich permanent for around £27m, which adds another layer of complexity to any potential move for Stankovic.
“Unless they’re not keeping Palhinha, presumably. Maybe that’s part of it. But he’s developing really, really quickly as well.”
Inter’s Buy-Back Clause
Any potential deal would be complicated by Inter’s buy-back clause. The Nerazzurri can trigger a £23 million option in 2026, having sold Stankovic for under £9m last July. This gives Inter significant control over his future, particularly if his development continues at its current trajectory.
Brassell praised Stankovic’s qualities and the environment at Brugge that has accelerated his development. He said:
“You look at the amount of players moved, not just through Club Brugge, and the fact that getting to play in the Champions League as well is a big deal. But he’s seized his opportunity really well.”
“I think if you look at their mix that they have between young players and more experienced players, they’ve got the right elder players in there to really guide. Simon Mignolet is one of those, for a start. Hans Vanaken, who has been there for ages now, can really help those young players as well. But Stankovic has obviously got a huge amount of quality. He’s tough. He doesn’t really give the ball away.”
For Tottenham, pursuing Stankovic would only make sense if they’re planning not to exercise Palhinha’s purchase option, or if they’re preparing for significant midfield restructuring. Otherwise, as Brassell suggests, adding another midfielder of similar profile seems unnecessary given their current resources.