Why missing out on Zaniolo wouldn't be a disaster for Tottenham

 

Roma's 2-0 win at Spezia on Sunday evening extended their unbeaten run to six games and lifted them into the top four. The main talking point from the victory, however, was the absence of Nicolo Zaniolo. The attacker was left out of the Giallorossi squad that travelled to the Alberto Picco as he looks to resolve his future. 

 

Heavily linked with a move to Tottenham once more, Roma appear willing to accept a loan deal with an obligation to buy at the end of the season, though they face stiff competition from AC Milan for the attacker. "Nicolo Zaniolo has asked to leave the club," Roma boss Jose Mourinho confirmed over the weekend, and Spurs now have a week or so to get the deal done if they are to beat the defending Italian champions to the 23-year-old. 

 

The issue is whether Zaniolo is the right player for the north London side. While Antonio Conte's side have scored the third most goals (40) in the Premier League this season, questions have been asked of their attack, particularly during Dejan Kulusevski's respective spells on the sidelines this season. 

 

Spurs lacked the guile the Swede brought to the side during his absence, and with Son Heung-Min out of form, they faltered. Able to play out wide and behind the forwards, the hope will be that Zaniolo provides the creativity through the middle to help pry apart resolute backlines. Yet while there is more to come from Zaniolo with the right coaching, there is a nagging feeling that the youngster isn't the right player for this Spurs side. 

 

Widely considered a superb ball carrier, this is arguably Zaniolo's best route to goal. Standing at 6ft 2in, he's a physically imposing threat when he does gain a head of steam, or at least that is the idea. In truth, this side to his game has been founding wanting this season. He is determined in his approach to hurting opponents, of that there is no doubt. The Italy international is attempting a commendable 4.6 dribbles per 90 in Serie A this season, the second most of any Roma player. 

 

The issue is that Zaniolo is being dispossessed far too frequently. Indeed, of the 4.6 attempted dribbles per 90, he is only completing 0.9 per 90. Of the 57 players to attempt 25 of more dribbles in Italy's top tier this term, Zaniolo's dribble success rate of 23.7% is the worst in the division. Only Spezia's MBala Nzola (53) has been dispossessed more times than the Italian (35) in the 2022/23 Serie A campaign. 

 

Even when it comes to prying apart defences, Zaniolo's dip in creativity hasn't gone unnoticed. While last season he has chipping in with a modest 1.3 key passes per 90, that has dropped to 0.8 this season, so it's not a shock to see he has failed to register an assist in 2022/23. When combining successful dribbles (9) and key passes (8), Zaniolo has made just 17, two attributes you'd expect from a player capable of playing on the wing or in the number 10 role, yet he has actually committed more fouls (22) than he has both attacking qualities. 

 

Ill-discipline is something that has plagued Zaniolo in his career, and even for a player his age, one would have expected his temperament to have improved in time. Yet, Zaniolo has collected more yellow cards (30) than he has directly contributed to goals (18) in his Serie A career. In front of goal this season alone, his struggles are clear in that he has hit the back of the net just once with 28 shots, returning a conversion rate of just 3.6%, the third worst in Serie A. It's no surprise, then, that of the 222 players to have registered at least 850 minutes of game time, only Kevin Lasagna (6.20) has a lower WhoScored rating than Zaniolo (6.21) in Serie A this season. 

 

 

To his credit, Zaniolo has done extremely well to rebuild his career after two serious knee injuries before turning 23, yet if Spurs do ultimately miss out on the Roma man, it could prove a blessing in disguise. They do need an additional body in the final third to link the midfield and attack, however, Zaniolo just feels the wrong fit for the club. With a week to go until the window closes, there is plenty of time to get another attacking body through the doors at Hotspur Way, especially as they left it late to sign Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski last January, but if Roma are willing to negotiate the player's Olimpico exit; then losing out to AC Milan for Zaniolo wouldn't be one to lose sleep over.

Why missing out on Zaniolo wouldn't be a disaster for Tottenham