Tottenham Hotspur are now closely monitoring a midfielder who Lionel Messi "loves", but there could be competition for his signature from some of the Premier League's top clubs, according to a report.
Spurs could need summer rebuild after another Premier League defeat
Ange Postecoglou managed to stave off some pressure by leading his side to a 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar last week, booking a place in the Europa League quarter-finals, but the manager was brought right back down to earth on Sunday afternoon.
Tottenham succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away at Fulham to remain 14th in the Premier League table, having now gone three games without a win, and the poor performances across the campaign indicate a major shake-up could be needed this summer.
Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri is one of the latest players to be linked with a switch to north London, with Spurs set to make a £30m bid for the Algerian, while Postecoglou is also keen to convince Lille midfielder Angel Gomes to join.
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The Australian needs reinforcements before next season.
Signing a new central midfielder is seemingly high up Postecoglou's list of priorities, as a report from The Boot Room has revealed the Lilywhites are also closely monitoring Inter Miami's Benjamin Cremaschi,
Tottenham are not the only big club interested in Cremaschi, however, with Manchester City and Newcastle United also tracking his performances, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion, and they are likely to be impressed with what they've seen, given that Messi is believed to be a big fan.
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal with Santiago Morales and Benjamin Cremaschi
Last April, MLS expert Matt Doyle said: “I didn’t necessarily see it with Cremaschi last year, he’s a nice player but it felt like I was missing something.
“Then he comes right into the team after finally getting fit, and you can see he’s making all the little connective-tissue plays around the box that make you go ‘oh yeah, this is what Tata is seeing, this is what Messi’s seeing,’ Messi apparently loves the kid.”
Cremaschi impressing in the MLS
The American has earned a call-up to his national side after first impressing former manager Gregg Berhalter, who said: "So we had Benja in camp in October prior to the World Cup, he was with the U-20 group and he immediately caught my eye for his just tenacity, and his relentlessness."
The 20-year-old has established himself as a key player for Inter Miami, having already chalked up 75 appearances for the MLS side, during which time he has showcased his attacking threat by picking up seven goals and seven assists.
Of course, it would be a big step-up for Cremaschi to sign for one of the Premier League's biggest clubs, but an endorsement from one of the greatest players of all-time is always a good sign, so it is exciting news that Tottenham are now in the race for his signature.