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Why Domenico Berardi is the missing piece of the Spurs attack

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Fabio Paratici’s appointment as Spurs‘ new Sporting Director could go down in the club’s history as one of the best pieces of business ever made – if some of the players that are being linked with a transfer to North London do indeed arrive.

One man in particular who is being touted as a potential new signing that could help shape the future of the club while on the field is 26-year-old Italian international Domenico Berardi, who scored in the opening match of the European Championships against Turkey last Friday.

The forward has been the first name on the team sheet for Italian side Sassuolo since 2012, scoring 86 Serie A goals in 238 appearances – an impressive return for a team who’s highest finishes since being promoted have been sixth (2015-16) and eighth for the last two seasons running.

Whilst his loyalty is very admirable, Berardi is reportedly ready to seek a new challenge and fight for trophies, but with not too many clubs being able to afford his price tag and many of the big teams across Europe not willing to sign a player who is already 26 and hasn’t yet competed in the Champions League, Spurs’ biggest competition right now are North London rivals Arsenal.

With Paratici at the club, Arsenal aren’t expected to pose much of a threat to Spurs’ pursuit of the versatile forward, who in many ways is a lot like Heung-min Son – but also someone who prefers to stay slightly wider and can deliver good quality crosses or cut onto his favoured foot and bend a shot into the far corner.

At £45 million, the signing seems unlikely at this moment in time, but the fact Paratici actually accepted the job does suggest that the club is ready to invest heavily in the playing staff, and it may just take a player of Berardi’s quality to keep Harry Kane and Heung-min Son at the club.

When lining up in a front three, Kane and Son often find themselves having to carry the team on their backs, with Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn struggling to contribute goals consistently, and Gareth Bale not fit enough to start as often as the fans would like.

All four of those names could potentially find themselves at another club by the start of next season too, so it is vital that the player that comes in to become a starter in that position is clinical, shows great composure in the final third and makes the right decisions – and Berardi fits that quota perfectly.

Also expect the Italian to work incredibly hard and get back as often as he can to contribute on the defensive side too, and he will always try and put a tackle in and get the team away on the counter – with the ability to play accurate long passes and inch-perfect through balls, which would benefit Kane and Son greatly.

The fee is expensive, but the return could be invaluable. Plenty of goals will definitely be on the menu if Berardi arrives in the summer.

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