Tottenham's transfer business might not be done yet, with a Ukrainian on their radar
(Image credit: Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Tottenham are considering hijacking Marseille's move for Atalanta playmaker Ruslan Malinovskyi, according to reports.
Spurs have tended to leave their transfer business until late in the window during Daniel Levy's chairmanship, but that has not been the case this summer.
Antonio Conte's side secured the signings of Richarlison, Clement Lenglet, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Djed Spence and Fraser Forster before the Premier League season got under way at the beginning of this month.
(Image credit: Getty)
But that does not mean Spurs will not go back into the market before it closes for business on September 1.
Malinovskyi is a player that has caught the attention of Conte and Fabio Paratici, Tottenham's managing director.
Malinovskyi appeared to be on his way to Marseille after a successful three year spell with Atalanta in Serie A.
But according to French publication Foot Mercato, Tottenham could be about to step in and hijack the deal.
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Spurs are considering offering Sergio Reguilon to Atalanta in a bid to sweeten the deal and reduce the fee they would have to pay for the attacker.
Corriere dello Sport reports that Conte views the versatile Malinovskyi as a potential alternative to Dejan Kulusevski.
(Image credit: PA)
Spurs have received a boost with reports that Malinovskyi has not been particularly convinced by his talks with Marseille.
The Ligue 1 side are willing to meet his pay demands but the Ukraine international does not have total faith in their project.
That could hand the north Londoners the advantage in the race to sign the 29-year-old, who looks set to leave Atalanta come what may.
Conte's side, who beat Wolves 1-0 at the weekend thanks to a Harry Kane header, will return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Tottenham have amassed seven points from a possible nine at the start of the campaign after a 4-1 thumping of Southampton and a 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).
