Journalist explains why Spurs are ‘reluctant’ to pay £13m for attacking target

According to Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas, Tottenham Hotspur target Ruslan Malinovskyi has admitted he wants to play in the Premier League.

Malinovskyi was linked to Tottenham back in the summer but no move materialised at the time. Nevertheless, the speculation has not gone away since (Sport Mediaset).

Ruslan Malinovskyi
(Photo by Ivan Romano/Getty Images)

The 29-year-old has found himself frustrated at Atalanta this season, limited to just five starts for the Serie A club (Transfermarkt). As a result, Malinovskyi has been told he can leave the club (Gazzetta dello Sport 16/11/22 as relayed by Sport Witness).

It had been suggested that both West Ham and French side Marseille were keen on Malinovskyi, too (Ignazio Genuardi). However, the latter were believed to be cooling their interest in the Ukraine international (TuttoMercatoWeb).

With the January transfer window now open, Corriere della Sera claims Spurs have already made an initial approach for Malinovskyi, though that deal is believed to be a loan offer with an option to buy.

That may not be the deal Atalanta are looking for though, according to Thomas. In his transfer report, Thomas claims the Italian club “want £13m (€15m)” to let the player leave.

Although it is believed the player “wants to move to the Premier League this month,” a stumbling block for Spurs’ pursuit is the fact the North London side are apparently “reluctant to pay fees for players turning 30 and above.”

While it was previously thought Marseille had backed away from Malinovskyi, Thomas suggests the French club are now the ones with the “strongest interest” in the player.

Spurs Web Opinion

This Ruslan Malinovskyi saga is getting a little frustrating now. If we want the player and he wants to come to the Premier League, we need to just make it happen. We know how much Atalanta want, so it should be a simple deal to complete.

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