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Spurs’ hopes of signing Marco Senesi could be hit by reported interest from Liverpool
Piecing together Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans for the coming window is, to say, the least complicated. Rumours, many of them rather wild, have been swirling around at pace since the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi, but even the more plausible stories in the press suffer from the uncertainty surrounding the club’s league position.
Even if Spurs avoid relegation, however, it could be that they miss out on one of the few players they have been firmly linked with – Bournemouth centre-half Marcos Senesi. The Argentine is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium on a free transfer this summer, and several outlets have reported that Spurs were in a strong position to snap him up if they dodged the drop. That may no longer be the case.
TalkSport now report that Liverpool, another side widely credited with interest in Senesi, are “contemplating” whether or not to launch a rival bid. So what’s the current situation with Senesi? And where might Spurs turn instead if they do miss out?
Assessing Marco Senesi’s future as Tottenham & Liverpool show interest
Several stories published in April suggested that Spurs were in pole position to sign Senesi should they remain in the Premier League: The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that there had been “advanced talks” over a deal, while Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg went as far as claiming that an “agreement in principle” had been reached.
Plettenberg has a questionable track record outside of his own patch in Germany (it was he who wrongly claimed that Arsenal were making a late bid for Sandro Tonali at the end of the January transfer window) but even if the assertion that a deal had been agreed is dismissed, there was plenty of evidence to suggest that Spurs were well-placed to get a deal done.
There was always reasonable doubt over any such stories, of course, given that Spurs could easily be playing in the Championship next season, but the claim that Liverpool might attempt to hijack their bid has a ring of truth regardless.
Reports which suggested that Liverpool were keen on Senesi have circulated widely over recent months, and they appear to have been keeping tabs on the 28-year-old for some time. Even if Arne Slot’s side succeed in tying down Ibrahima Konaté to a new deal – which looks likely but isn’t yet guaranteed – they need reinforcements at the back.
Joe Gomez looks likely to leave Anfield this summer, and while they will have Jérémy Jacquet coming in and Giovanni Leoni returning from a ruptured ACL, Liverpool are likely to look for strength in depth given both the inexperience of the newer arrivals and the gradual decline of Virgil van Dijk.
Even if Liverpool do make a move, Spurs aren’t necessarily out of the running. Assuming they remain in the top flight, they are more likely to be able to effectively guarantee Senesi first-team football, given that Cristian Romero seems certain to leave and the fact that there is continued interest in Micky van de Ven. At Liverpool, he could easily end up as a back-up.
TalkSport’s new story doesn’t suggest that an approach has been made, simply that Liverpool could come in before Senesi’s contract ends at the end of June. Spurs won’t be able to agree a deal until their Premier League status is secured, providing rival sides with time to assess their options. But the report does lend credence to the idea that Senesi’s future is far from settled – and that could easily mean that Spurs have to look elsewhere.
The £30m Senesi alternative seemingly on Spurs’ radar
Fortunately for Spurs, the gossip columns also suggest that another centre-back is on their radar: Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemović, a 23-year-old Bosnia & Herzegovina international who has been among Serie A’s most impressive defenders this season.
Several stories link Spurs with Muharemović. In April, Sport Witness reported on stories from Italy which suggested that both they and Aston Villa were keen on the towering centre-half, while Italian journalist Nicolò Schira put Tottenham in the frame this week. A number of sources seem convinced that Spurs are in the running.
The bad news for Spurs is that they aren’t alone. As well as Aston Villa, Bournemouth have also been mentioned as potential suitors, while Inter Milan are believed to be extremely keen – as are German outfit RB Leipzig. Depending on which source you choose to believe, the price tag could range from as little as £20m to something closer to £30m, the fee proposed by Football Italia in their report, which put Inter at the front of the queue.
Muharemović may not be available for free, but his performances in Serie A suggest that he would be an exceptional signing. A remarkably consistent presence at the back for Sassuolo, Muharemović has been outstanding in the air, exceptional in one-on-one situations and has demonstrated a fine positional sense. Although relatively limited in terms of his ball skills, he has all the natural traits and qualities required to be a first-rate centre-back.
The problem lies with the strength of the competition. If Inter are keen on Muharemović, then Spurs will have a difficult time outgunning the new Italian champions when the bidding begins – and both Aston Villa and Bournemouth could offer European football depending on the final Premier League table.
Juventus, Muharemović’s former employers, can’t be counted out either. Their challenging financial position makes it challenging to piece together their transfer plans – they reportedly need to raise around £25m from player sales to stay in the black this summer – but they have a 50% sell-on clause as part of the cut-price deal which sent the Bosnian to Sassuolo, which would give them a huge edge in negotiations if they do enter the bidding, something a few outlets have suggested could happen.
On paper, Muharemović would be an excellent signing for Spurs, but there is every chance that he becomes another player who proves unobtainable if teams in a less precarious position do make moves. Senesi might not be the only defender they find more difficult to sign than they might have hoped this summer, even if they do avoid relegation to the Championship.
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