Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly moved into pole position to sign a highly-rated midfielder from Celtic as Roberto De Zerbi continues his summer rebuild, but they are not alone.
It has been widely reported over the last few weeks that Roberto De Zerbi wants to strengthen his midfield options this summer, particularly after Tottenham’s well-documented creativity issues last season.
Spurs are already pushing hard for Newcastle United’s £100m star Sandro Tonali, with reports suggesting the Italian is open to the move despite Tottenham’s lack of European football next season.
Spurs Web also recently revealed that West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes has emerged as another major midfield target, with De Zerbi keen to bring the £80m-rated Portuguese star to North London alongside Tonali rather than as an alternative.
However, Tottenham’s search for midfield reinforcements does not stop there, with another highly-rated talent now emerging on the club’s radar.
Tottenham are leading the Premier League race for Benjamin Nygren
According to SportsBoom, Tottenham have moved to the front of the queue among Premier League clubs interested in Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren.
The report claims Spurs have been closely monitoring the Swedish international and see him as a smart long-term investment rather than an immediate marquee signing. While De Zerbi wants proven quality added to his midfield, the club are also looking at younger players who can strengthen the squad and develop further in North London.
SportsBoom add that Celtic are holding firm on their £26m valuation of the 23-year-old and are unwilling to lower their demands. Despite that, Tottenham remain interested and have already made positive progress in preliminary discussions surrounding the player’s potential move.
The report also suggests Spurs’ technical staff believe Nygren would adapt quickly to Premier League football and could become an important squad option over time.
Brighton and Bournemouth also monitoring the situation
Tottenham are not the only club impressed by Nygren’s performances for Celtic over the last year.
SportsBoom report that Brighton & Hove Albion have tracked the midfielder, who can feature in both central midfield and the number 10 position, extensively and have built up detailed scouting reports on the Swedish international.
The Seagulls remain interested, but are currently viewed as ‘disadvantaged’ compared to Tottenham. Bournemouth are also keeping a close eye on developments as they look to add further depth in midfield ahead of the new season, with Alex Scott expected to depart the club this summer.
However, Celtic’s £26m asking price is believed to be a significant obstacle for both clubs, giving Tottenham a potential advantage if they decide to step up their pursuit.
For now, Spurs appear to be leading the Premier League race, although it remains to be seen whether they are prepared to meet Celtic’s valuation while also pursuing bigger midfield targets such as Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.
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