Tottenham Hotspur have had a very good season so far and will enter 2016 full of confidence that they can achieve a top four finish under Mauricio Pochettino. One of the reasons his management has yielded such success is his faith in the youth at the club and the high intensity, high pressure brand of football that he has introduced.
With the January transfer window opening soon as well, Spurs will surely be looking at reinforcements to strengthen their bid for Champions League qualification.
Numerous reports lately have linked the North London club with Sassuolo forward Domenico Berardi. The 21-year-old has attracted high praise and it is no surprise that some of Europe’s heavyweight clubs have been looking at him.
Liverpool have also been linked with the left footer, and Juventus - who owned shares in the player until this summer - have also been reported as a potential destination for the young Italian.
Berardi was voted as Serie A’s young player of the year for 2014 and scored an impressive 15 goals in 32 games for his club last season.
Sassuolo themselves have had an impressive season and are fighting for a European spot, currently sitting 7th in Italy’s top league. It would be understandable, therefore, if the club would prefer to hold on to their star until the summer, as he may hold the key to achieving the position they are after this season. That means that Tottenham would most likely have to wait until the summer to sign their target - if he is a target.
Arguably the biggest obstacle facing Tottenham, though, is the reported buy back clause that Juventus had inserted into the deal when they sold their shares in Berardi to Sassuolo. If the Italian giants are truly interested in his services, then several reports have claimed they have first refusal on Sassuolo’s number 25.
If so, it would mean that they could sign Berardi for considerably less than the probable asking price that Sassuolo would have in mind for Tottenham. That would be a huge blow for Tottenham, as it may come to pass that they don’t even have a chance to sign the player.
It is clear that Pochettino would like more young, high energy players in the squad. Memorably, Spurs had several bids rejected by West Brom for Saido Berahino, which would indicate that Tottenham definitely want a forward.
That is understandable considering the lack of backup for Harry Kane. The capture of Barardi probably wouldn’t solve that issue, but it would definitely mean more support for the current crop of stars at White Hart Lane. And if he could continue the form he has shown in Italy, but do that in England, it would also be a shrewd move by Spurs, especially considering the potential Berardi has.
With Chelsea’s disastrous attempt at a title defence, Manchester United’s frailties and the inconsistencies shown by Liverpool, this is a great chance for Tottenham to take advantage and secure the top four finish they are after. The capture of a player as talented as Berardi would be a big boost in their quest to get back into Europe’s elite competition.
It would also mean another talented young player for Pochettino to work his magic on. With his track record, a move to Spurs would surely appeal to Berardi, especially if he would like to ply his trade in another league.
Sure, there will be obstacles to overcome if Tottenham are to get their man, but it would be an exciting acquisition for Spurs and their fans.