Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik could be one of the first players to follow new Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino through the door, FootballDirectNews.com understands. A source close to White Hart Lane told FDN technical director Franco Baldini is once again ready to use his extensive list of Serie A contacts to significantly strengthen the squad in the summer transfer window.
The club insider said the 26-year-old features prominently in Tottenham’s plans for the 2014-15 campaign and an offer could be put on the table within a matter of weeks.
He has two years remaining on his contract in Naples and could be ready for a fresh challenge overseas after coming in for criticism from the Italian media for his performances in the second half of last term. Spurs will, however, have to convince him to turn his back on Champions League football and settle for a season in the Europa League. Napoli boss Rafael Benitez, formerly of Liverpool, guided Napoli to a third-place finish in the Serie A table, while Tottenham had to settle for sixth place in the Premier League.
Their failure to secure a spot in Europe’s leading club competition is thought to have cost head coach Tim Sherwood his job earlier this month.
