Arsenal
Premier League • England
Fabrizio Romano clears up ‘surprising’ Arsenal, Tottenham links to classy forward’s transfer in 2023
Talk Arsenal or Tottenham could sign Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo in 2023 has been clarified by Fabrizio Romano, with only one club seemingly in with a shout.
Zaniolo, 23, is one of the brightest talents Italian football has produced in recent times. The classy forward operates primarily in a No 10 role and has previously been talked up as a player who’d thrive operating off of Harry Kane.
Zaniolo is fully over his injury issues after two ACL injuries robbed him of 18 months of his career. However, with his contract in Rome due to expire in 2024, speculation has begun to swirl over where his long-term future lays.
The Italy international has regularly been linked with Tottenham and it should come as no surprise why.
Spurs have found great success plundering Serie A in the market since sporting director Fabio Paratici took the reins.
Conte has also strengthened Spurs’ desire to sign players from Italy and Tottenham have bought the likes of Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski from Serie A sides.
North London rivals Arsenal too have been linked with Zaniolo. Indeed, only over the weekend did Italian outlet Radio Radio report the Gunners were mulling a £22m bid next summer.
However, speaking to Caught Offside, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano poured cold water on the chances of Zaniolo moving to the Emirates.
Romano stressed he’s heard nothing about an Arsenal swoop, and added the links to Tottenham are tentative at best.
“I’m aware there’s been some speculation about Nicolo Zaniolo again, and it’s a slightly surprising story as there are no negotiations between Arsenal and Zaniolo as of now,” Romano said.
“He has never been close to a Premier League move. Tottenham links were there in the past because of Fabio Paratici who’s always been following Zaniolo since the beginning of his career, but nothing more concrete than that.”
Zaniolo’s links to Tottenham, Arsenal explained further
Radio Radio’s report seemed to stem from Zaniolo’s contract situation.
He’ll have just 18 months remaining on his deal come January, and Roma reportedly harbour concerns about committing to the type of numbers Zaniolo will command in his next deal.
They claimed there were no signs of extension talks with Roma at the time. However, that changed less than 24 hours later.
Zaniolo’s agent, Claudio Vigorelli, later stated to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia): “There are no clouds on the horizon, we have an excellent rapport with Roma and Tiago Pinto and we’ve agreed that we’ll discuss a contract extension in the future when the club think it’s best.
“Now, the most important thing is to focus on work and performance on the pitch.
“The club know that we are ready to sit down and negotiate. I repeat that the rapport with Pinto is excellent and Zaniolo is happy in Rome and with fans.”
Clearly, a Zaniolo move to Arsenal or Tottenham will require a major reversal of fortune with a stay in Rome now looking the likeliest outcome.