Spurs linked with Ruslan Malinovskyi- Right option for them?

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly reignite their interest in Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi when the transfer window reopens in January.

The north Londoners were interested in signing the Ukrainian international in the past summer transfer window and had lodged a loan bid, but Atalanta rejected the proposal. As the player will enter the final six months of his Atalanta deal in January, clubs across Europe may look to tie him down to a pre-contract agreement.

According to TuttoMercatoWeb journalist Marco Conterio, Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has requested the Sporting Director of the club, Fabio Paratici, to try and sign Ruslan Malinovskyi in the winter transfer window. The negotiations between the two clubs are yet to begin, but Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini finds the midfielder non-transferable, Conterio tweeted.

Malinovskyi, 29, joined Atalanta from Belgian club KRC Genk in the summer of 2019 and has gone on to make 142 appearances, registering 30 goals and 28 assists. He has entered the final year of his contract with the Bergamo-based club and will be eligible to open pre-contract talks with foreign clubs in January.

Ruslan Malinovskyi to Tottenham—Right option for Antonio Conte?

Tottenham spent close to £150million during the summer transfer window to bolster the squad after Antonio Conte helped them qualify for the Champions League. Spurs have started the 2022/23 campaign well and sit fourth in the table, which could see Conte being handed another chance to reinforce his squad in January.

One of the positions Conte should target is the midfield with his team lacking the creativity to carve open rigid defences this season. Rodrigo Bentancur has done an admirable job as a deep-lying playmaker and could impact games more with someone creative in the No.10 role. That is when someone like Ruslan Malinovskyi could make a huge difference at Tottenham.

Malinovskyi may not have enjoyed a great season in Atalanta colours but still managed to average 0.4 interceptions, 1 tackle, 0.8 dribbles, 0.9 key passes and 1.8 long balls per game in Serie A. The Ukrainian has been tidy with his link-up play and distribution after completing 79.5% of his attempted passes (Stats courtesy: WhoScored).

The midfielder has shown throughout his career that he is capable of being a massive threat in the final third of the pitch, having racked up 73 goals and 68 assists in 346 appearances in club football. Malinovskyi is a versatile Mo.10 with the ability to set up his teammates in the final third, link up play and get at the end of things in the box to finish off a move.

He is a smart player with great technical skills that could help Spurs enjoy more control of the ball in the centre of the pitch. In addition, Malinovskyi has a ferocious left foot with which he has scored plenty of spectacular goals from long distances.

As his Atalanta contract is due to run until the end of the season, Spurs must try their best to sign Malinovskyi on a cut-price deal in January.