Matias Vecino during his time at Fiorentina. (Getty Images)
According to Italian source Inter News, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Matias Vecino from Inter Milan next summer, with manager Mauricio Pochettino targeting the combative Uruguayan international as a replacement for Mousa Dembele who departed the club in January.
The same report claims that Spurs will have to pay around £25 million to sign the 27-year-old defensive midfielder next summer.
Vecino made his move to the Serie A with Fiorentina from Uruguayan club Nacional back in 2013 and had loan stints at Cagliari and Empoli before joining Inter in 2017. His stocks have risen ever since his move to the San Siro and the 27-year-old has developed into a highly-rated defensive midfielder.
The Uruguayan has impressed for the Nerazzurri this term as they currently sit 4th in the Serie A, right on track for securing a Champions League qualification spot next season. He caught the eye with his gritty performance and scored with a neat headed finish on Matchday 1 of the Champions League group stages in a 2-1 victory over Spurs at the San Siro, a display which might pave the way for a move to north London next summer. Vecino has accumulated 3 goals and 4 assists from 31 appearances for Inter in all competitions this season.
Vecino, who was a part of Uruguay’s squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, is essentially a defensive midfielder by trade even though he has been used in a more advanced role as a box-to-box midfielder at times. Standing at 6ft. 2 inches with a towering and muscular frame, the 27-year-old has a wonderful range of passing, both short and long, which allows him to dictate the tempo of the game in the middle of the park.
He combines his strength with his technique to shrug off challenges and hold on to the ball, allowing himself to get involved in the build-up play. While ball retention is definitely one of his key attributes, Vecino is also adept at cutting out attacks with crucial tackles and interceptions. The Uruguayan is regarded as a tough-tackling and all-action combative midfielder who excels with his uncompromised work-rate, whilst his aerial ability in open play as well as in set-piece situations can be an added asset to any team.
To put things into perspective, Tottenham need to bring in new players to bolster their squad next summer and defensive midfield is one area that is in dire need of investment. Mousa Dembele’s departure has left Pochettino with the young duo of Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp as the only viable options at the base of his midfield diamond while Victor Wanyama has proved himself to be too injury-prone to rely upon.
The Lilywhites haven’t brought in a single fresh face for two transfer windows, with Lucas Moura being the last to arrive from PSG in January 2018. They should be desperate to do some fruitful business in the summer and Matias Vecino, with his Champions League and Europa League experience, perfectly fits the bill.
To Read More Spurs News, Click Here:- Latest Spurs News
Tottenham’s challenge for the Premier League title has once again fallen apart in the latter stages of the season due to lack of depth and quality in their reserves. They need more depth in their ranks to challenge for silverware on all fronts and Vecino is certainly a proven player at the highest level. £25 million for a top-quality midfield enforcer like Vecino can prove to be a bargain and that said, they should not hesitate to splash the cash on him next summer.