Tottenham Hotspur are set to be dealt a frustrating transfer blow, with Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli wanting to pursue a move to Juventus over Spurs, according to Calciomercato.
The lowdown: Spurs keen on deal to sign midfielder flourishing at the European Championships
Sassuolo star Locatelli has previously emerged as a potential transfer target for both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this season, as they look to bolster their midfield options heading towards the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
Locatelli has shone for the Italian national side at this summer’s European Championships, and will be keen to pick up another win when they take on Belgium in their quarter final on Friday evening.
The 23-year-old is valued at £31.5million (as per Transfermarkt), and Tottenham’s new sporting director, Fabio Paratici has reportedly been keen to strike a deal to land Locatelli’s signature this summer.
The latest: Locatelli chooses Turin over London
Locatelli is reportedly keen on a move to Juventus over Spurs or Arsenal, according to Calciomercato.
Juventus finished fourth in the Serie A table in the 2020/21 season, and although the Gunners have submitted an offer while Tottenham lie in wait, it seems he has chosen Turin over a switch to England.
This will be an irritating update for Spurs supporters to hear of this summer, with their midfield potentially needing additional depth in the future, with Harry Winks recently being linked with a move to Aston Villa.
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The verdict: Frustrating
For any player, you’re going to want to be playing at the highest possible level in your footballing career, and for Locatelli, a move to Juventus will present him with the opportunity to do just that.
The midfielder has been a regular for Italian side Sassuolo in recent seasons, but his strong showings for the Italian national side this summer at the European Championships have certainly warranted attention from higher up the Serie A ladder.
A move to the Premier League could have been a tempting proposition for the central midfielder, but you can’t blame him for opting for a side who had won nine consecutive league titles before Inter claimed the 2020/21 crown.
Tottenham also do not have immediate Champions League football to offer, and so it appears they will miss out on the man stunning pundits this summer – BBC hailed the ‘intelligent’ maestro as the key to everything Roberto Mancini’s side do this summer.
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