Napoli skipper Lorenzo Insigne in action. (Getty Images)
According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (h/t The Daily Mail), Tottenham Hotspur have made contact with the agent of Lorenzo Insigne over a potential transfer. The Italian winger is in the last year of his contract at Napoli and wants an improvement on his £4.3million-a-year wage packet in exchange for long-term renewal.
Insigne is also linked with Barcelona, as per the aforementioned report. The 30-year-old has spent his entire professional career in Naples but this looks like a chance for Spurs to pounce, with his contract situation still unclear. But if it does happen, would this be a smart acquisition from the Lilywhites? Let us see.
Spurs can use a forward like Lorenzo Insigne. A household name in European football, Insigne has had a stellar career at Napoli, where he has shown his durability and quality. He has 109 goals and 85 assists in 397 senior appearances for the club. That shows he has the experience at the top level and can be an instant starter for Spurs.
The club is expected to be without Gareth Bale next season. The Real Madrid winger joined the club on a loan deal under Jose Mourinho last season but is now set to return to the Spanish capital ahead of next season. That leaves Nuno Espirito Santo without a winger who played a major role in Spurs’ second half of the season last time around.
Insigne can play out wide and is majorly a left-winger, a position where Son Heung-min usually occupies. But the South Korean wide-man, just like Insigne, can play down the middle as well. Son can also occupy the right flank, which is considerably underpowered after Bale’s departure, allowing Insigne to man the left-hand side.
Insigne and Son’s ability to play down the middle can come in handy regardless of Harry Kane’s future. The Telegraph (Subscription Required) link Kane with a move to Manchester City this summer. If the Englishman leaves, one out of Insigne and Son can potentially step in as the centre-forward, with the other one then free to play on the left wing.
If Harry Kane stays at N17, Insigne would be an added option in attack alongside Son, who can play as false-nine or even as a centre-forward depending on the situation. This situation would arise if Kane is unavailable.
Nuno Espirito Santo has no natural No.9 at the club apart from the England international. That can be a big problem next season if their star striker suffers an injury or if the manager wants to rotate his squad. With Carlos Vinicius also back at SL Benfica after his loan spell ended, Spurs would be wise to buy an attacker.
At 30, Insigne is still at an age where he can give the club a few years of service. With him in the last year of his Napoli contract, Spurs would like to have some ease in potential negotiations, considering the Serie A side’s fear of losing the winger on a free transfer if he does not renew.
