Tottenham Hotspur’s summer transfer business has already got off to a flying start with the additions of goalkeeper Fraser Forster and Ivan Perisic, with both players set to join the squad once their current contracts with Southampton and Inter Milan expire at the end of the month.
Plenty of work has been underway since the end of the season just 10 days ago, but the latest reports have now revealed that the summer transfer negotiations had already begun back in January.
According to football.london, Tottenham Director of Football Fabio Paratici held talks with the representatives of Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie at the start of the year, over what has been described as a discrete summer deal.
There has been plenty of speculation linking Tottenham with midfield targets including the likes of Christian Eriksen and James Ward-Prowse. But Paratici is said to be a 'big fan' of McKennie and held talks in January over a potential move.
Those early talks will stand Spurs in good stead should they wish to pursue the Juventus midfielder this summer, but all depends on just how well those talks between Paratici and McKennie’s representatives went. Even before news of those discussions, Spurs were being strongly linked with the 23-year-old, before they snapped up Rodrigo Bentancur instead.
Bentancur has shown good progression at Spurs since his arrival and registered four assists in 17 Premier League fixtures, in which he became a regular starter and struck up a good midfield partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. However, Conte is now looking to bolster his artillery.
Would Weston McKennie be a good signing for Tottenham this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Bentancur’s Juventus teammate Dejan Kulusevski was also snapped up on an 18-month loan deal with an option-to-buy, and he became one of the signings of the season with five goals and eight assists in 18 top-flight games. Due to the success of these signings from The Old Lady, McKennie may be more obliged to also make the trip overseas.
The United States international’s long-term injury certainly hampered his progress in what was turning out to be an impressive season for him, but having returned in his club’s final game, there is hope that he can now pick up from where he left off. That injury may have also stopped Juventus from increasing his price tag, in what could be a bonus for Spurs.
But it is Paratici’s talks earlier in the year and his connections with Juventus that could play the biggest part in this transfer saga. Spurs have expressed their interest in McKennie, and with his future uncertain due to Massimiliano Allegri’s supposed plan to rip apart the Turin outfit’s squad, this is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Conte is desperate to bring in quality to his side that will make them competitive in the Champions League next season, and the promise of being able to play in European football’s most prestigious competition is a major boost for Spurs in their pursuit of players.
