Nicolò Zaniolo

[WiganSpur]

umm, signing a player like this in a position where we already have at least 2 others risks bloating the squad, players who don't often get on the pitch start to moan leading to disharmony

With Contes Spence statement and having six FB/WBs I wish we' d just fkin ship a few out, then buy some competition for Dier and maybe a creative AM then be done with it

How would it? In the 3-4-3 we have 6 attackers for 3 spots including Gil, so if he's replaced by Zaniolo that's not overkill, especially considering he can play as an 8 in a 3-5-2.

 

[Nine while nine]

Have I seen him play? No.

Do I have a valid opinion on whether he would be a good buy? No

Am I childishly happy that a poster with an avatar showing the former manager of AS Roma dressed up as Zorro turned up out of the blue in the ITK thread and dropped a piece of news about not just any old Roma player, but a Roma player whose surname begins with Z? Yes. Yes I am.

 

[curlacious]

FFS lads some of you need to calm down. Do you really think we will not cover off all angles on someone who has done ACL twice? While I know we like to take potshots at DL over the years, he isn't daft and neither is Paratici. If we do sign this lad then the terms agreed will reflect the risks associated with such a player.

Low fee and a shitload of appearance related add ons. Or could be a loan with option.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Even so, Fabregas got 12 PL assists in the season Chelsea won the league under Conte, which is more than Zaniolo has managed in 81 league games for Roma.

I think the main positive about Zaniolo is that he's be a solid backup for Kulu and wouldn't require us to change formation, but as others have said that's because he's essentially another wide forward rather than a midfielder.

This is a key point. I think many on here have this obsession with us signing a number 10 when Conte has never really played with one in his career. Having a back up with a similar skillset to Kulu makes much more sense.

 

[Scot-Spur]

He is a rather different skill set to Maddison. More a forward than a creative midfielder.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Well, with Lamela gone, GLC leaving and Sessegnon having a run of injury-free form, the physios need something to do around here.

 

[Clark28]

One positive is that his name isn't pun-friendly.

 

[LukaKranjcar]

I’m sure the club knows the risk at least a bit better than some blokes on a football forum ?

Not my money either. If Conte wants him and the club are confident injury wise then get it done.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

We need recent video of him walking so that SC's body language experts can assess his injuries.

 

[DodgyLasagne]

No point employing Paratici seeing you know everything about this guy already.

Well it's just an opinion here but he runs into soooo many blind alleys it's ridiculous.

And honestly, the 2 goals 5 assists as the main second striker in 30 Serie A matches is really really concerning.

The injury isn't even the issue for me. He's in excellent shape, a physical phenom. That wasn't the limiting factor last year.

You can fix an ACL. But he lacks a brain.

 

[curlacious]

This is a key point. I think many on here have this obsession with us signing a number 10 when Conte has never really played with one in his career. Having a back up with a similar skillset to Kulu makes much more sense.

Yes, we're looking at Richarlison covering Kane and Son and Zaniolo covering Kulu on the right. Moura becoming a RWB option and Emerson moving on. Makes a lot of sense.

 

[cliff jones]

How would it? In the 3-4-3 we have 6 attackers for 3 spots including Gil, so if he's replaced by Zaniolo that's not overkill, especially considering he can play as an 8 in a 3-5-2.

I haven't seen that much of him but he looks like he plays in the same position as Moura and Kulu. Evidence of him playing well as an AM welcome.

Spend the money elsewhere

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

But he lacks a brain.

Ooooh, I wonder what his member name on here is.

 

[Timberwolf]

This is a key point. I think many on here have this obsession with us signing a number 10 when Conte has never really played with one in his career. Having a back up with a similar skillset to Kulu makes much more sense.

Yeah as a backup think he'd give us more balance down that side than Lucas does, and would allow us to make Lucas more of a wildcard impact sub or an auxiliary RWB, rather than a player we'd be seriously relying on if a single one of our front 3 gets injured (especially Kulu).

If the deal is in our favour there's certainly potential upside to it, but as others have said, feels a bit underwhelming compared to the other targets we've been linked with (albeit a lot more realistic than Maddison, etc).

 

[spurfetto]

Last season as per transfermarkt, played a fair amount, 8 goals, 9 assists, not so bad, 13 yellows and a red.

 

[tottenham_skriniar]

Zaniolo is one of the dumbest players in Serie A. He has more yellow + red cards than goal contributions.

I think Jose would be absolutely delighted if he can get money for Zaniolo and upgrade with Dybala.

 

[Snarfalicious]

We need recent video of him walking so that SC's body language experts can assess his injuries.

Here he is, making his way down the road to Hotspur Way for his medical. Looks fine to me.

 

[jurgen11]

Get him in , and then get some more in...if NDombele going the other way is part of the deal he can make the tea for all I care..

 

[Aphex]

I've seen him a few times and he's never stood out for me.

Our squad badly needs a Maddison type player not a Zaniolo. To go from potentially Maddison to Zaniolo is incredibly underwhelming it has to be said.

Our window was going really well, but with Lenglet in as the only CB so far and if Zaniolo ends up being the much heralded AM signing, then that is really disappointing. Of course if we were to still sign a CB and AM on top of those two then it's fine, but that would be venturing well into the realms of implausible. If Conte wants Zaniolo then that is who he wants, but I just think he has flop written all over him.

 

[Scot-Spur]

This is a key point. I think many on here have this obsession with us signing a number 10 when Conte has never really played with one in his career. Having a back up with a similar skillset to Kulu makes much more sense.

It’s not so much a No.10 it’s a creative minded player, we have loads of workmen like players but need a bit of a creative spark.