Tottenham Showing Interest in Fiorentina’s Milan Badelj

Along with striker being a position of need for Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino must also bolster his central and defensive midfield positions too, if he wants his squad to compete in the Champions League and Premier League next season.

News is coming out that Tottenham are showing interest in Fiorentina central midfielder, Milan Badelj, to help bolster a position that was heavily reliant on Mousa Dembélé before he was charged with a six-match ban.

Related Story: Sebastian Rode Chooses Dortmund Over Tottenham

The loss of the Belgian international left a gaping hole in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI that couldn’t be fixed with Ryan Mason taking over.

Two consecutive losses against Southampton and Newcastle United, weren’t attributed to Mason entirely, but he surely didn’t help when he needed to impress Pochettino ahead of next season or potentially lose his spot on the squad.

With Spurs in the market for more depth at central midfield as well as defensive midfield and missing out on Sebastian Rode who chose to remain in Germany and sign with Borussia Dortmund, it’s not exactly surprising that Tottenham’s name has popped up and is being linked to the Croatian international.

Speaking to the Daily Express, here’s Milan Badelj’s agent, Dejan Joksimović, talking about a move for his client despite how valuable he was for Fiorentina last season:

"“The Premier League is always attractive, for all of the players in the world I think,” Joksimović said.“If he leaves Fiorentina this summer all the options are available, we have talked about this a lot.”“Clubs playing in Champions League have priority, if there are some.”"

Because Tottenham finished third in the Premier League, they were guaranteed a spot in the Champions League group stage, making their return to Europe’s elite club competition for only the second time in their Club’s history.

Therefore, additions must be made to help this team compete on all fronts, most notably advancing into the knockout rounds of the Champions League during Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And then competing on the weekends when Premier League football returns.

To sign a player who fills a position of need is key, but to find someone who does that while also boasting extensive Champions League credentials, that’s not only an added bonus but someone who must be signed if possible.

Badelj has been made 31 Champions League appearances for Dinamo Zagreb before he made the switch to Hamburg in 2012. Two years ago, the 27-year-old joined Fiorentina and has only been to the Europa League since then.

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An offer from Tottenham would likely be something that Milan Badelj could consider but it won’t be easy according to his agent, Joksimović.

There will be plenty of clubs looking to sign the Croatian, and first dibs of course belong to teams located around Italy.

"“His contract is expiring June 2018, [I] don’t think that he will renew with Fiorentina,” Dejan Joksimović added. “It’s not impossible but most likely [it’s] not [happening].”“We have several teams from Italy and abroad [who are] very interested in him. [It] depends if the club wishes to sell him or not. If not, he will stay another year or two.”“I read that his price is around £8 million but sincerely I do not think that Fiorentina will sell him for this amount. It’s more likely closer to £12 million.”"

If — and this is a big if — if, Fiorentina are thinking of selling Milan Badelj for only £12 million, not only is that a modest amount for a 27-year-old central midfielder. But the Viola would be willing to lose a player who managed to average two tackles and 2.6 interceptions per game in 27 Serie A appearances last season via WhoScored.

To be able to shield the back four as a central midfielder, while also doubling down as a defensive midfielder, no matter what the formation or his position was, Badelj would be a coup of a signing for any club interested in him that can offer Champions League football.

With Tottenham showing interest, though they’re not at the top of the list by any means, what they have going for them — along with the allure of getting Badelj back into Europe’s elite club competition — is the fact that a Premier League move is something that the Croatian international would find difficult to turn down. As every player always dreams of playing in England one day.

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Right now, Tottenham has shown some form of interest in the player, but nothing else has cropped up like tabling a bid of £12 million. Unfortunately, time is not on Spurs’ side even though they tend to do their business late as that’s how Daniel Levy tends to operate.

Because, just like the situation with Vincent Janssen and AZ Alkmaar, clubs are going to start lining up to sign the 27-year-old midfielder from Fiorentina if Tottenham don’t start moving quickly. And losing another one of their supposed targets because they’re trying to get a bargain deal or continue their scouting could once again doom Spurs of their first choice options.