With a new Director of Football in Fabio Paratici and the likely appointment of Paolo Fonseca as coach, Tottenham look set to kick into overdrive. An impressive summer of spending and squad development is needed to get the club back to competing and to ensure they can keep star talent happy. The arrival of a new coach and Paratici might also change the direction on certain exits from the club. However, one arrival who appears closer to happening is Nico Gonzalez.
The Argentine winger currently plays for VfB Stuttgart. Signed as a precocious youngster, he struggled in his first season in Germany as VfB were relegated. A starring season on their return to the Bundesliga, though, has reignited interest in a player who was always seen as a massive talent at youth level. At the moment, reports in Germany suggest that a fee of around £25m is going to be enough to compete the deal on a player who has immense potential.
Spurs, though, cannot wait around – reports in Italy suggest that Fiorentina are pushing every bit as hard. Backed by finance and with an ambitious project in Tuscany, Spurs cannot assume that Gonzalez will automatically pick London. La Viola are believed to have offered a smaller package, but are expected to return to the table with a similar offer to what Spurs have suggested.
Who is Nico Gonzalez?
A five-time Argentine international, Gonzalez is a tricky forward who has an eye for goal and for creating assists. The 23-year-old is also quite versatile, having played up front or on the wide areas with equal levels of comfort during his career. He also offers a player who can get in behind as well as drop deep to create chances; his lateral movement would be ideal for the likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min.
The 23-year-old made 10 starts in the 2020-21 season for Stuttgart, setting two goals up and scoring six during an impressive individual season. He also impressed in their 19-20 2. Bundesliga season, starting 21 times and contributing 14 goals to go with 3 assists.
Without doubt, his excellent work rate and his focus on both attacking and defensive play would make him an ideal addition. Spurs need to bring in more players with a natural two-way style; younger players with enthusiasm who don’t mind doing the dirty work in midfield.
Indeed, the forward has even been compared to an enemy of Spurs in Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Interestingly, the man who discovered both players works for Stuttgart and also worked for Arsenal. Sven Mislintat was a short-term appointee at Arsenal before moving on to start a new project at Stuttgart.
Having become a name in the European game for excellent talent spotting, Spurs fans should be excited that a player who comes with such a warm reception from a talent spotter such as Mislintat has been decided upon. If they can beat Fiorentina to the punch, Spurs will land a top quality forward.
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