Nikola Milenkovic

[SandroClegane]

Wait people are this upset off of a solitary report from Lyall of all people? Good lord it's not even a concrete link

 

[spursfan77]

Wait people are this upset off of a solitary report from Lyall of all people? Good lord it's not even a concrete link

But we’ve been linked with him all summer off and on. If he doesn’t go to West Ham I wouldn’t be surprised if we do sign him.

 

[Tucker]

From Romarios description he sounds a little too similar to Romero to me. Surely we need more of a sweeper to pair up with him.

 

[arunspurs]

Exactly and everyone wanted him then.

No, I didnt want him then & not now too.

 

[LeBonge79]

He's a central defender who at a push can go to right back. He's good in the air and a strong presence on the pitch. He's not the fastest thing on two legs but he makes up for that with his positional awareness which is very good. He has been one of Fiorentina's most consistent players over the past couple of seasons and in any team that counts for a lot. One thing in his favour is that he is very rarely injured. Man Utd were very interested but decided on Harry Maguire instead.

If you compare their statistics (per 90 minutes) for last season (although it is Premier vs Serie A) it's quite interesting. I'll give you Maguire's figures first then Milenkovic : succesful tackles 72%/80%, succesful aerial duels 76%/83%, interceptions 1.7/1.4, fouls 1.2/1.7, clearances 3.2/3.3, passing accuracy 86.9/86.5, passes completed 68.1/55.3 and finally goals 2/2.

Nuno will love him because he is a very aggressive defender who likes to get up tight with his opponent and not give them room to breathe.
Many people will feel he's not of the required quality Spurs need but you also have to bring Santo into the equation and assess what he could possibly bring out of this 23 year old.
I think this is what Nuno feels is lacking in our defence, a sense of presence and being in the attackers face and space. We obviously plan on having a much more intimidating set of defenders and he would certainly fit the bill.

My assessment : No he's not top drawer (yet) but if you want consistency mixed with controlled aggression and a first class footballing brain then you need look no further. He could develop into a very tidy player and help provide that unbreakable brick wall we need in front of Hugo this season. I'd be quite happy if he joined us.

Thanks really appreciate your time. From the very little I’ve seen of him I don’t get why everyone is so down on him. I guess it would mean moving Romero across to left centre back if Milenkovic came.

 

[Romario]

Thanks really appreciate your time. From the very little I’ve seen of him I don’t get why everyone is so down on him. I guess it would mean moving Romero across to left centre back if Milenkovic came.

The one thing that is impressing me is how Nuno picked up on the fact (after they beat us last season) how we were lacking in a physical presence defensively. We were bullied out of so many games last season and he's obviously working on that in training with the existing squad and passing on that info to Fabio. It just shows how good the communications are between the two.

 

[CorlukaModric]

Maybe we are going for Milenkovic, Tomiyasu and Dodo from Shakthar … 5 at the back…
Dodo-Milenkovic-Romero-Tomiyasu-Reguilon….

That would leave Doherty RWB Tanganga RCB Dier CB and Rodon LCB Sess LWB as back up options…

 

[Revo19]

Maybe we are going for Milenkovic, Tomiyasu and Dodo from Shakthar … 5 at the back…
Dodo-Milenkovic-Romero-Tomiyasu-Reguilon….

That would leave Doherty RWB Tanganga RCB Dier CB and Rodon LCB Sess LWB as back up options…

I feel like that’s far too many right-footed centre backs and we have enough already. Really need replace Vertonghen (Davies is not the answer) and for that reason, I’d prefer we looked at Sven Botman from Lille - lefty and he’s a unit but also quite athletic. Think he’d complement Romero really well. Also opens up the pitch and allows more natural tactical variations with a true left CB who’s a competent passer.

 

[Hotspur1978]

 

[$hoguN]

Pass.

The little I’ve read and seen suggests he isn’t the quality of player we beed

 

[wiggo24]

Yeah really not sure what problem he solves. We can do better.

 

[LeBonge79]

This guy profiles very similarly to Tomiyasu (the Japanese lad). I wonder if it’s one or the other. Either to put the pressure on Bologna or we have moved on

 

[Guntz]

No thanks

 

[AJW]

Not sure who he would replace. Is he enough of an upgrade to justify it?

 

[Ruffinthepuffin]

Not convinced at all if I’m honest.

 

[Hercules]

Maybe someone/somebody is hearing what I am not. That is possible. But from what I understand on our targets, his name has never come up.

 

[TH1239]

Milenkovic is a much better player than he is being given credit for here. He's had some great performances for Fiorentina, especially in the 2019-2020 season. For a fee of under 15 million pounds, he would be a great signing. Remember, Conte reportedly wanted him at Inter to replace Skriniar, and Conte is one of the best player development and evaluators of talent around.

Also, I think he has the mentality to do well in England, too. Fiorentina did an interview with him a while back that was a very comprehensive overview of his footballing philosophy. You can read it in English here: https://www.acffiorentina.com/en/ne...-team/2021-05-06/one-on-one-nikola-milenkovic

 

[Colonel Dax]

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Tottenham Hotspur move for Nikola Milenkovic as Tammy Abraham completes £34 million transfer from Chelsea to Roma

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their interest in Nikola Milenkovic after West Ham United decided not to pursue him. Fiorentina have valued the Serbia defend

www.thetimes.co.uk

Tottenham Hotspur move for Nikola Milenkovic as Tammy Abraham completes £34 million transfer from Chelsea to Roma

Tottenham Hotspur have stepped up their interest in Nikola Milenkovic after West Ham United decided not to pursue him. Fiorentina have valued the Serbia defender, who has also been linked with Juventus and Seville, at about £13 million after he entered the final year of his contract.

The 23-year-old, who can play at centre back and right back, joined the Italian club for £4 million in 2017. Fabio Paratici, the Tottenham managing director, wanted to sign him for Juventus when he was their sporting director two years ago.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

If we were letting one of Sanchez or Dier go, I could see the value here. But if the are staying, Tomiyasu looks a better fit as a RB who can also play CB, as opposed to Milenkovic being a CB who can fill in at RB.
The only other benefit I can see if to have him onboard and then use him to pull Vlahovic if we match his value and are competing against Atletico.
Romero spoke openly about how having Gollini and Lo Celso already at Spurs played a part in convincing him Spurs was the right move for him.