With the first ever winter World Cup out in Qatar motoring through the knockout stage games, whilst the Italian national side were unfortunately not there again, the requirement for a pause in all European domestic schedules has obviously effected Serie A. That is allied to the fact it partially coincides with natural winter breaks that have come into the European game in recent years – so one of the biggest, more genuine, sources of news over the last few weeks has been the expected transfer rumour mill claims that hit at this time of year as the January transfer window edges ever nearer.
You can see how all the speculation affects the odds for the rest of the season with the betfair welcome offer although obviously it depends on which of the current rumours prove true, and indeed, if there are any exits in the transfer window as well.
For every understandable reason, players who perform well on the World Cup stage often find themselves front and centre of transfer news whilst the competition is playing itself out, and Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat more than falls into that category given his own individual performances for his homeland.
The 26 year old Netherlands born, but nominated Moroccan international, is closing in on 50 international caps for his country, and he is one of the players who has seriously impressed at the 2022 world stage tournament. Morocco were in Group F for the qualifying stage, and went through easily with two wins and a draw (seven points) even though their group contained Croatia, Belgium and Canada.
Having held Spain to a scoreless draw at full time in the Round of 16 clash, but progressed 3-0 on penalties, whatever happens in Saturday’s Quarter Final tie with Portugal, Amrabat is one player who comes out with great credit, so ahead of the Portuguese clash (as I type) it is no surprise to see him being linked with a January switch to the likes of fellow Italian Serie A side, Inter Milan, and English Premier League regular top sixers, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.
Speculation about Amrabat’s future has been a regular on the European rumour mill, but his performances have clearly intensified his interest to worldwide media, and it is claimed that Fiorentina are adamant that he is going nowhere – at least before the end of the current 2022/23 campaign.
Even then, there are reports that they will go further and could be prepared to double the 26 year old’s wages in an effort to keep him at the Stadio Artemio Franchi for the next few years, if not longer.
The Tottenham Hotspur story is probably the most likely link if anything does happen, as they are credited with a long standing interest in him going back to last January as their gaffer Antonio Conte continues to reshape the squad, but with chairman Daniel Levy being notorious for not wanting to pay over the odds – Fiorentina’s board will be confident in holding out. Whilst they were once open to loaning out the player previously if the finances were right, his appearances on the world stage have reportedly moved them into a position where they will only deal if a club makes an offer than now forces ‘their hand’.
If interest in Amrabat is accurate, the question ultimately becomes will the player sign a new deal or not? If not, even if a deal cannot be achieved in January, clubs like Tottenham Hotspur gain a better negotiation position with every six months that ticks off his contract.
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