Serie A club are eyeing a January move for Tottenham star.
Tottenham Hotspur took just two points from their first five Premier League games, failing to score in any of the first four.
It’s a worrying start for a club that had big ambitions this season. They spent over £300m in the summer, but made some questionable decisions in the transfer window. Putting the ball in the back of the net remains an issue, while several players are still struggling with fitness.
Following the weekend’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa, Roberto De Zerbi admitted that this three-week break is important for players like James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Destiny Udogie to build up their fitness. As a result, he decided to grant Tottenham’s non-international players a week-long break.
Fiorentina plot January move for Tottenham defender
Destiny Udogie has been a part of the shaky backline that has conceded eight goals in five league fixtures. The 23-year-old has been left out of the Italy national squad for the UEFA Nations League games. While missing out on representing his national team comes as a personal disappointment for the left-back, it allows him the extended pause to work hard on his fitness and get back into rhythm.
Off field, speculation continues to surround the Italian international’s future. According to Corriere Fiorentino (h/t Sport Witness), Fiorentina chief Fabio Paratici is planning a January move for Destiny Udogie. He is desperate to secure a natural left-sided defender to solve a mounting injury crisis in Florence.
Fabio Paratici worked behind the scenes to help his former club Tottenham secure a move for Udogie from Udinese in 2022. The experienced Italian official is now considering raiding Spurs for the left-back when the transfer window reopens on January 1, 2027.
The cruel ACL injury to Fabiano Parisi has left manager Paolo Vanoli to rely on makeshift left-back options. But with central defenders Viery and Victor Valdepenas failing to fill the void left by Parisi, Paratici has started working on assessing options to solve the left-back woes. And Udogie has emerged as an option for Fiorentina’s sporting director.
Udogie remains an essential cog in Tottenham’s defence
Udogie’s availability for Tottenham in the last two seasons has been debated within the fanbase. While the Italian international’s quality remains undisputed, he was restricted to just 20 Premier League appearances last season due to recurring hamstring and calf issues.
When fully fit and firing, though, the 23-year-old is a valuable asset to the team, and De Zerbi is well aware of that. He is an admirer of his compatriot’s qualities in and out of possession, and with the club sanctioning Djed Spence’s sale to Inter Milan in the summer, it is highly unlikely that they will let go of Udogie and weaken their full-back department.
Clearly, the Verona-born talent remains a part of De Zerbi’s long-term plans in N17. So, if Paratici wants to bring back Udogie to Italy, his club must put together a financial package capable of tempting the Lilywhites to sell him.
