According to a report by Italian news outlet Calciomercato, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool are 'ready' to pay the €30 million (£25.6m) release clause for Roma star Lorenzo Pellegrini. 

The Lowdown: Italian job?

Since managing director Fabio Paratici was officially appointed by Tottenham, the club have been linked to a host of Serie A stars - including ones that are currently shining for Italy at Euro 2020.

Domenico Berardi, who has been a real threat and mainstay under Azzurri boss Roberto Mancini, is one of the names touted with a possible Spurs move this summer.

Manuel Locatelli is another, with the very promising 23-year-old dazzling for Italy on Wednesday evening in their 3-0 win group stage win over Switzerland.

The Latest: Tottenham 'ready' to pay for Pellegrini...

Now, as per a claim from Calciomercato, Tottenham are 'ready' to pay the £25.6m release clause in Pellegrini's contract amid the player's contract dispute at Roma.

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Indeed, the 24-year-old is currently in talks over a new deal at the Stadio Olimpico, but the 'agreement is missing' and 'struggling to be found'.

This has prompted the Lilywhites and Premier League rivals Liverpool to turn their heads, with both sides now ready to pay the fee needed.

The Verdict: Jack of all trades

An all-round central midfield player, Pellegrini is both a threat going forward and solid defensively going by the numbers.

The Italian dynamo averaged an impressive 2.1 shots per 90 in Serie A over 2020/2021 - which is even more than Son Heung-min managed in the Premier League at Tottenham (WhoScored).

Defensively, Pellegrini also made the same amount of interceptions per match domestically (1.3) as Tottenham midfield colossus Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (WhoScored).

This points to a very dynamic midfield presence in all areas, leaving little wonder why he has been called 'phenomenal' by Roma legend Francesco Totti (Basia.news).

Pellegrini would certainly feel like a top signing for Spurs, but given their more pressing need for a centre-half, we still believe he should be put into the maybe pile for now.

In other news: 'I am hugely surprised'...Sky pundit baffled by alleged transfer development at Spurs, find out more here.