Why Spurs should consider a move for Riccardo Sottil
According to the Daily Express, Spurs are keeping close tabs on Fiorentina starlet Riccardo Sottil, with a view to a potential move in the future.
Tottenham have set up a scouting mission in the Serie A and the 20-year-old is amongst those to have caught the eye of the club’s scouting team, despite only making a handful of appearances for Fiorentina at the highest level. (h/t Express)
A youth product of Fiorentina. Sottil was called up to the club’s senior squad late in the 2017-18 campaign, although it was only last season that he made his professional bow for La Viola.
The talented winger played a couple of cameos off the bench in the league the last term before being loaned out to Serie B outfit Pescara to further his development.
Following an impressive loan stint in the second tier where he made eyeballs turn with a string of dazzling displays, Sottil has apparently managed to establish himself in a more substantial role under manager Vincenzo Montella, with the 20-year-old starting in Fiorentina’s league defeats against Napoli and Genoa.
As per the report, the Lilywhites have been left impressed with the player’s rapid development and they might choose to firm up their interest in the prodigy before the transfer window reopens in January.
Essentially a right-footed left-winger by trade, Riccardo Sottil has the versatility to play on either flank and also through the centre in a supporting role behind the striker.
The 20-year-old, who is held in high regard by the youth staff at Fiorentina, has been tipped for a big future in the beautiful game, with his recent U-21 debut for Italy coming as a reward for his rapid development on the club front.
To put things into perspective, the Italian youth international is still far from the finished article but Spurs might have a gem on their hands if he goes on to fulfil his promise in the years to come.
Of course, Sottil would need time to acclimatise to the style of play and climate in England, having spent the entirety of his formative years in the youth ranks of Fiorentina thus far, but the Lilywhites should not hesitate to snap up a hot emerging prospect like him as a part of their long-term plans moving forward.
While the Italian prodigy has certainly showcased a level of maturity that belies his tender years as a footballer, Spurs would still need to polish him and smoothen the rough edges in his game before he becomes ready to make the step up to the Premier League in due course of time.
Interestingly, Spurs have turned their attention to the Italian market in recent times to pluck out some quality young talents, with Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo and Sottil’s Fiorentina teammate Federico Chiesa amongst those to have been previously linked with moves to North London.
The Lilywhites raided the Championship for promising teenagers Jack Clarke and Ryan Sessegnon this summer and their interest in Sottil is yet another indication of their ambitions to build a strong platform for the future.
In Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have got just the ideal manager who boasts of the charisma to transform little-known youngsters into world-beaters and the prospect of a move to North London is likely to appeal to the 20-year-old, with Fiorentina struggling for survival in the Italian top-flight in recent years.
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Given that he is highly-rated at Fiorentina, Sottil is unlikely to come on the cheap but Spurs should not hesitate to play a gamble on him, as he looks capable of making a big impact in the years to come.