Tottenham suffer setback as Serie A giants plan to secure future of 14 G/A ‘Rocky of Football’

Tottenham have suffered a setback in their pursuit of a central midfielder thriving in Serie A.

From now until the end of May, Tottenham Hotspur have to focus on getting results and keeping themselves in the Premier League.

New interim head coach Igor Tudor faces a baptism of fire as he takes on Arsenal in the North London derby at home on Sunday. TalkSPORT pundit Ally McCoist thinks Igor Tudor could be in for a rude awakening in N17 due to a tough fixture list, but the fans will hope the Croat is the right man to turn things around.

Simultaneously, the Hotspur Way chiefs have started putting plans in place for the summer transfer window. One key area that requires attention is the midfield. Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall have undergone surgery and are ruled out for several months, while uncertainty remains over the future of Joao Palhinha, who is on loan from Bayern Munich.

Napoli planning to secure Scott McTominay’s future amid Tottenham interest

Spurs signed Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in the winter transfer window, but an injury to Bergvall meant they were ready to welcome another body in midfield. Reports suggested that the Lilywhites were keen on Napoli star Scott McTominay; however, the Serie A side did not entertain any offers.

Scott McTominay has proven to be a revelation for Napoli since joining from Manchester United in 2024. He guided Napoli to the Serie A title last season, netting 12 times in all competitions and registering six assists. He won Serie A’s ‘MVP’ award and became a cult hero in Naples for his rich exploits.

The Scot has not put the brakes on his gear one bit, scoring 10 times already this season whilst notching four assists. Such good numbers for Napoli has unsurprisingly gone unnoticed across Europe, with Man United eyeing a reunion in the summer.

However, according to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Napoli have opened talks with McTominay and his entourage over an improved deal until 2030, as well as offering him higher wages. Gli Azzurri want to secure the midfielder’s future as they are wary of the growing interest. They have no intention to part ways with him, with president Aurelio De Laurentiis considering the 14 G/A ‘Rocky of Football‘ as a key player in the project.

The report adds McTominay hasn’t shut doors on any potential offers from England, but his priority is negotiating with the Naples-based outfit. Based on the success and stability he has enjoyed in Serie A, the Scotland international wants to continue with Partenopei.

Setback for Spurs?

Scoring goals have been a big problem for Tottenham this season. The absences of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have hurt the team massively both in terms of chance creation and goalscoring. Gallagher is a busy customer in the engine room, but they need a top-quality box-to-box presence who can drive the ball forward and chip in with regular goals.

This makes McTominay a perfect fit for the North Londoners. At 29, he is in the prime stages of his career and has the qualities to make an immediate impact for the Premier League club. But his preference is to stay in Naples and sign a new contract, which should serve as a setback for Tottenham in their pursuit of the player.

While a deal for the ex-Man United star appears unlikely, this is the kind of profile that must be targeted by the Hotspur Way bosses in the summer to improve the midfield unit.