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Tottenham are set to come face-to-face with Aston Villa star Nicolo Zaniolo this weekend, who came close to joining the club previously. The winger ultimately remained with AS Roma before joining Galatasaray earlier this year in a deal worth £13million.
Zaniolo had been linked with a move to the Premier League on numerous occasions throughout his career due to his exciting performances with Roma and his versatility. The 24-year-old can play on either wing and has been deployed in midfield as well, thriving in the No 10 role behind the striker.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle are among the clubs to have been loosely linked with Zaniolo in years gone by, though Tottenham were the most interested in acquiring his services in 2022.
Antonio Conte was reportedly the driving force behind the pursuit of the playmaker, having watched him closely whilst he was in Italy. The ex-Chelsea boss was desperate to play Zaniolo in midfield behind Harry Kane and pushed his ideas to Daniel Levy, who obliged by shortlisting him as a transfer target.
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After being priced out of signing the forward in the summer of 2022, Spurs reignited their interest in January earlier this year following his public fallout with Jose Mourinho. However, a move never materialised and Galatasaray pounced in February to sign Zaniolo before loaning him out to Villa just a few months later.
The winger has struggled for minutes since heading to Villa Park, making just nine appearances in the Premier League and failing to register a goal or assist, being forced to play second fiddle to fellow summer signing Moussa Diaby as a result.
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Unai Emery will be hoping that he can help Zaniolo get his career back on track in what remains of his loan spell at the club, with a buyout clause inserted into the deal in case the ex-Arsenal boss decides that the Italy international has a long-term future in Birmingham.
As it stands, Levy won’t be ruining failing to sign Zaniolo despite the immense pressure from Conte as that decision allowed him to sign James Maddison from Leicester City this summer. However, Spurs still lack depth in that creative midfielder role and their need for reenrolments in that department could be highlighted further in the next few weeks whilst Maddison is ruled out with an ankle injury.
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