Tottenham report: Spurs to beat Juventus to creative Serie A midfield starlet

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Italian midfielder Davide Frattesi from Sassuolo.

The Lilywhites have shifted focus to signing Serie A stars since Fabio Paratici joined as a director alongside Antonio Conte. The pair worked together at Juventus and have expertise in Italian football, with the Athletic (opens in new tab) labelling Spurs, 'Juventus on Thames' in response to this transfer strategy. 

In the January 2022 transfer window, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur were signed from the Old Lady – and both players became integral stars in the final throes of the season when Spurs clinched Champions League football. 

Now, according to CalcioMercato (opens in new tab), Tottenham are leading the race for Sassuolo star Davide Frattesi – though Juventus are reportedly ready to offer €30 million for the player.

A disciplined midfielder capable of breaking lines with passes and splitting defences with his playmaking, Frattesi has been capped by Italy but is still just 23 years old. The signing of another extremely disciplined operator in the centre of midfield would further suggest that Conte's move to a 3-5-2 formation is a permanent change rather than a temporary measure to soften the blow of not having either Richarlison or Kulusevski. 

Both attackers are currently injured but Conte has favoured a move to a packed midfield in recent weeks as Spurs look to hold onto possession a little more. The north Londoners have been overrun in big games against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal.

Frattesi would enable a little more control centrally but with former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho also a fan and wanting to bring the Italian to Roma, there may well be a tussle for his signature. 

Tottenham have been linked with a number of midfielders since the transfer window closed and may well look to recruit in January – just as they did last season. 

Frattesi is valued at £18m by Transfermarkt (opens in new tab). 

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