Tottenham's transfer approach is going to be fascinating this summer as they look to get back to challenging towards the top of the Premier League. After mainly targeting young players for the future last summer, Ange Postecoglou stated prior to his dismissal that the club needed experienced players this time around.
Now set to embark on a Champions League campaign on top of their Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup commitments, the addition of players who have played at that level before and are comfortable there could hold the key to Tottenham achieving their goals come May. In what has been a very quiet transfer window for Johan Lange and the club with not many players linked due to the managerial uncertainty, transfer talk could be set to ramp up now Thomas Frank is in place.
One player who has been mentioned in regards to a Tottenham transfer in recent days is Roma midfielder Niccolo Pisilli. According to reports, Spurs have agreed a deal in principle to sign the 20-year-old.
So what exactly would they be getting in Pisilli? football.london takes a look at what his previous Roma managers have said about him.
Jose Mourinho on Pisilli's first Roma goal
“I gave lots of debuts in many other clubs, but at Roma many of them are kids who grew up here, who went to the stadium with their fathers, grandfathers, and when they get a chance to play for the senior squad, it is so emotional," he said.
“It is his first goal in the Stadio Olimpico, in the Europa League, in the net below where he used to sit in the stands. Such joy. I had to run off, or I would burst into tears too!"
Ivan Juric on Pisilli
“You fall in love easily. He’s young, he must grow, and he comes from an intellectual family. He’s also a little intellectual,” Juric told Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (via Football Italia).
“He is calm and serene. He thinks and has a talent that I had never seen in young players like him. He has a clear perception of things from the first touch. If he continues like this, working hard without being overconfident, he’ll have a great career.”
Juric on Pisilli
“We have a lot of youngsters who are leaving me very pleased and they can still improve a lot," said Juric. “Pisilli is an incredible talent, he can do better because he runs too much at times and loses position.
“But I love to coach him, he’s an incredible talent, humble, he controls the ball by pointing forward. He can play in the middle or a bit more advanced.”
Daniele De Rossi on Pisilli
“Who impressed me? In-person, Pisilli," revealed De Rossi. "I didn’t know him well; he’s such a strong player. He’s still a youngster, but he made an impression on me. I’m guilty of not knowing him well.”
Luciano Spalletti on Pisilli
“Looking at Pisilli, he seems like a really good midfielder. He knows how to play in both phases, and he is someone who always shows up," said Spalletti after calling up the Roma ace to the Italian national side.
“De Rossi told me that he always scores in small-sided games, he’s always present. He has high frequency and has lots of energy. He is someone who can do a bit of everything. He can be part of our new history.
“I think he deserved to come here with us, and now everyone is realising it too. We have to test things out here: For now I only bring 23 players, I don’t want to have two more players who get five or six minutes, and they end up feeling left out.
“I brought [Daniel] Maldini and Pisilli in the 23 because I want to see them on the pitch, making a difference for the national team.”