Soccer Football - Europa Conference League - Final - AS Roma v Feyenoord - Arena Kombetare, Tirana, Albania - May 25, 2022 AS Roma's Nicola Zalewski celebrates after winning the Europa Conference League REUTERS/Florion Goga
Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has his sights set on signing Roma midfielder Nicola Zalewski, according to reports from Italy.
The Lowdown: Zalewski’s career so far
Having graduated into the Giallorossi first-team last year, the 20-year-old has since made 34 appearances for the club.
Often used as an impact substitute by manager Jose Mourinho, the left-sided midfielder has featured four times in Roma’s starting XI this season, playing in both Serie A and the Europa League.
The youngster has duly earned a call-up to the Poland national team, for whom he has made seven appearances and played in each of their UEFA Nations League matches this year.
The Latest: Spurs interested in Zalewski
According to Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), Conte has had his sights set on Zalewski for ‘some time’ and Spurs are looking to bring the 20-year-old to Hotspur Way in the future.
However, Mourinho is not ready to part ways with the player, and the Serie A club agree that he needs to be kept in Rome at all costs. Whilst the Poland international’s contract runs until the summer of 2025, Roma wish to extend his deal by a further two years.
They realise they have a ‘precious’ player ‘on their hands’, so the club are working on a contract extension in order to ‘discourage Tottenham’ from making a move for the youngster.
The Verdict: Huge talent
At just 20 years of age, Zalewski continues to demonstrate why he is a hugely exciting prospect emerging onto the European football scene.
As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, the left midfielder ranks in the 96th percentile for progressive carries and dribbles completed, the 93rd percentile for pressures and interceptions and the 91st percentile for tackles made.
Having also played as a right midfielder and a left-back so far this season, the Polish gem continues to demonstrate his versatile qualities across the pitch.
Therefore, this could make a prospective move to Tottenham even more enticing from Conte’s point of view, with the Spurs boss still yet to nail down a sure-fire option at right wing-back.
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