Tottenham Hotspur have been told that one of their midfield targets, who excelled at the World Cup, would be a natural fit for Roberto De Zerbi’s style of play.
Spurs have strengthened the middle of the park with the big-money signings of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, but it remains to be seen if the Lilywhites also look to add a creative midfielder to their squad ahead of the new season.
Lucas Bergvall could leave Tottenham this summer, while some reports indicate that Xavi Simons is not expected to be fit until the end of 2026.
That perhaps explains why Spurs have been credited with an interest in Como star Martin Baturina, who excelled for Croatia at the World Cup.
Tottenham told Martin Baturina could take them to the next level
Croatian football expert Daniela Rogulj believes that the 23-year-old attacking midfielder is the missing piece of the puzzle for De Zerbi’s side.
She believes that the Como star’s ability to receive the ball under pressure and to progress it will make him a natural fit for the Italian’s preferred style of play.
When asked about the speculation linking Baturina with a move to Spurs, Rogulj told Tottenham News: “On paper, it makes a lot of sense. [Roberto] De Zerbi likes his teams to build patiently and progress the ball through midfielders who can receive under pressure and turn defence into attack in one motion.
“His time under Cesc Fabregas at Como, another coach with a similar possession-based philosophy, should have prepared him well for that kind of system. The question isn’t really whether he fits De Zerbi’s style, because I think he clearly does, but it’s more about where he fits into that Tottenham midfield specifically, given the players already there and the money being spent elsewhere this summer.
“If Spurs are serious about building an attacking, possession-heavy side under De Zerbi, Baturina is the profile of player who could genuinely elevate that project. I wouldn’t rule out him succeeding elsewhere too, but the tactical alignment with De Zerbi is one of the stronger arguments for this move in particular.”
Spurs will have to break the bank to land Baturina
Earlier this month, 24 Sata made it clear that Como will not let the Tottenham midfield target leave on the cheap.
The outlet claimed that the Serie A club had already rejected a €55m (£47m) offer for the player and added that Spurs would have to pay €80m (£68.3m) to land Baturina this summer.
The same update asserted that the Croatian international is also on the radars of both Aston Villa and Bayern Munich, which means that a deal could prove extremely complicated for the Lilywhites to pull off.