Tottenham could sign ‘this’ Sassuolo defender instead of Marcos Senesi.
Tottenham Hotspur have held in-person talks over the potential signing of Sassuolo centre-back Tarik Muharemovic, with the club now named as the side making enquiries following a visit to London by Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali, according to Football Fancast.
The 23-year-old Bosnian international has been one of the standout defenders in Serie A this season, making 31 appearances and leading his team in aerial duels won per game, interceptions, clearances, and blocks. His statistics paint a picture of a commanding, physically imposing centre-back, with 44 tackles, 45 interceptions, 31 blocks, and 213 clearances across 2,746 minutes of league football, alongside two goals. At 6 foot 2, he brings the kind of aerial presence and defensive authority that Tottenham’s backline has desperately lacked throughout this catastrophic season.
Sassuolo want €35 million for Muharemovic
Sassuolo are understood to be demanding €35 million for his signature and are not entertaining player-plus-cash offers, a stance that works significantly in Tottenham’s favour given the financial disparity between themselves and Inter Milan, who are also interested. The fee is considerably more manageable for Spurs than it would be for the Italian giants operating under different budget constraints, giving De Zerbi’s club a genuine competitive advantage in the race for his signature.
The most significant detail in the report, however, is what it means for Marcos Senesi. The Bournemouth defender had been widely reported as having agreed personal terms to join Tottenham on a free transfer this summer, but those reports now carry an important caveat. Senesi has not yet signed on the dotted line, and the emergence of Muharemovic as an alternative suggests Tottenham are weighing their defensive options carefully rather than simply rubber-stamping previously announced targets.
With Cristian Romero expected to leave and Micky van de Ven’s future uncertain amid Real Madrid’s interest, securing the right defensive additions this summer is arguably the most important piece of recruitment De Zerbi must oversee. Whether that means Muharemovic, Senesi or both remains to be seen, but the fact that Sassuolo’s CEO flew to London for talks suggests this particular pursuit is serious.