Tottenham’s pursuit of potential Joao Palhinha replacement have been dashed.
Having struggled for invention, control and poise from the centre of the park, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on adding a central midfielder to their squad this summer.
Roberto De Zerbi achieved the objective of keeping Spurs in the top flight. He preferred an experienced midfield trio of Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher to get results ahead of young guns Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. However, with Palhinha’s future still unresolved and Bentancur set to turn 29 later this month, Spurs have been scouring the market for a younger profile of central midfielder with more dynamism and energy.
In fact, the North Londoners need a central midfielder who can dictate the pace of the game, pick up smart positions across the pitch, carry the ball forward and make an impact at both ends of the pitch. Recent reports suggest that Tottenham have been closely monitoring the performances of Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic in recent months.
Fabrizio Romano crushes Tottenham’s dreams of signing Aleksandar Stankovic
Aleksandar Stankovic enjoyed a stellar season for Club Brugge, delivering 14-goal contributions in 57 games. He played a key role in the club’s league success, and the midfielder’s performances have unsurprisingly caught the attention of several clubs across Europe.
Tottenham have been one of them vying for the young Serb’s signature; however, they’ve been dealt a big blow in their pursuit now. According to transfer news guru Fabrizio Romano on X, Inter Milan have exercised the buyback clause to re-sign Stankovic from Club Brugge after just one season. The midfielder is understood to have penned a deal with the Nerazzurri until the summer of 2031.
Stankovic profiles as a modern-day defensive midfielder with qualities tailored to De Zerbi’s demands. He possesses the physical presence to dominate aerial duels while showing technical security on the ball. The Serbian international’s versatility allows him to operate as a centre-back in a back three when required, though his primary position remains defensive midfield. He also demonstrated a knack for scoring free kicks, adding another bow to his string.
However, with Inter Milan activating a €23m buy-back clause, De Zerbi and Tottenham’s recruitment team must weigh up alternative targets. With Yves Bissouma’s departure inevitable at the end of the month, Spurs must find an upgrade on the Malian international. Stankovic represented the profile De Zerbi wanted, but Inter’s actions have doomed their pursuit of the highly-rated midfield talent.