Tottenham Hotspur are battling hard in the market for two dream transfer targets of Roberto De Zerbi's to overhaul a midfield that has, quite frankly, been nowhere near the top five of the Premier League over the last few seasons. As it stands right now, Spur have to love their chances at a double swoop for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, because they are the only team willing to meet the 85 million pound valuations (or thereabouts) of both Premier League stars.
Spurs are, of course, looking at other options. Two more young Premier League standouts have been linked in Adam Wharton and Alex Scott, but for many Spurs supporters, the ultimate dream option was sitting outside of English football in Como star Nico Paz.
With 12 goals, 6 assists, and even better all around numbers, Paz was arguably the best center midfielder in world football last season as he led Como to the Champions League in historic fashion despite still being a U23 player.
Nico Paz got the best solution for himself
There was initially hope that Paz would be available for Tottenham Hotspur, as Real Madrid were finding it tough to convince Como to buy the player for a more than reasonable 60 million euros, leading Inter Milan and Premier League clubs (none named specifically) to be tabbed as the new most likely landing spots.
Now, though, Fabrizio Romano has reported the nail in the coffin for Tottenham and any other club hoping to land Nico Paz, because Real Madrid and Como were actually able to come to an agreement in the end to keep Paz where he is under Cesc Fabregas, which was the best solution for Como, Real Madrid, and Paz himself all along anyway.
Paz will stay at Como, who will pay a 60 million euro valuation to Real Madrid and include both a sell on clause and a buy back clause for the Argentinian international. And Tottenham will have to look elsewhere if they want another center midfielder with attacking properties who can carry the ball and play at an elite level.
Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes are set to be at the base of the midfield, and, so far, the main attacking midfield options are Xavi Simons, who is a hybrid 8 and 10, and James Maddison, who is a pure No. 10. Lucas Bergvall is still in the squad, but Spurs gem is expected to be sold.
Paz is a missed opportunity for Tottenham and a real dream target they had interest in last year but never really pushed to sign. There is not another player quite like him, and so Roberto De Zerbi may very well stand pat after he signs Fernandes and Tonali in midfield.
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