Tottenham is interested in Ruslan Malinovskyi, and Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini appears willing to let the playmaker leave this summer.
Spurs have had a successful transfer window, but you could argue that they need another attacking midfielder.
Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp, and Yves Bissouma are all very good central midfielders, but not exactly threats going forward.
An option to play as a number 10 would be ideal, and Tottenham could still go for a player in that area despite not following up their interest in Christian Eriksen.
TOTTENHAM WANT RUSLAN MALINOVSKYI
The hot name in the frame is Atalanta ace Ruslan Malinovskyi, who has been heavily linked with Tottenham in recent days.
Tutto Atalanta reported on Tuesday that Tottenham was closing in on a deal to sign Malinovskyi.
The report suggested that Tottenham was targeting a loan-to-buy deal whereas Atalanta wanted a permanent sale immediately.
Reports in Italy even suggested that Marseille had given up trying to sign Malinovskyi because he wants to join Tottenham.
Malinovskyi, 29, is a creative and dangerous attacking midfielder, passing a powerful shot on his left foot, especially from long range.
That could provide Tottenham with something different even if Malinovskyi is far from a long-term solution.
Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has now had his say on Malinovskyi’s future – and he actually seems open to the deal.
Gasperini has been quoted by The London Evening Standard as saying that he thinks Malinovskyi has been ‘extraordinary’ for Atalanta and has adapted into an important role very well.
However, Gasperini added that it’s only natural for Atalanta to be looking for other options in the transfer market given that Malinovskyi only managed six league goals last season.
”[Malinovskyi] has been extraordinary for us, then over the years there has always been Ilicic, we never thought of finding a player with those characteristics,” said Gasperini.
“He has been great at adapting, he has done some very good things. But it’s right for Atalanta to look for a player who scores more than six goals. He has adapted very well, but it’s right that in the market the club looks for players with characteristics more suitable for the game,” he added.
Malinovskyi’s total record of 29 goals and 27 assists in 129 games is pretty decent though, and Tottenham is unlikely to be put off.
