Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is in touch with Franco Baldini, who is an advisor to Roma president James Pallotta, as Spurs press the accelerator on their interest in Nicolo Zaniolo.
The 19-year-old attacking midfielder has emerged as one of the top young talents in Italian football this season since his departure from Inter last summer to Roma.
Roma are working on offering him a new contract, but the player has been on the wish list of some of the biggest clubs in Europe ahead of the summer transfer window.
Arsenal have long been keeping tabs on him, but it is their north London rivals Tottenham who have made the first concrete move for Zaniolo ahead of the summer.
According to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport's Nicola Schira, Tottenham have placed a bid of around €50m on Roma’s table to tempt them into selling the young attacking midfielder in the coming months.
Roma president Pallotta remains reluctant to let the player go even after receiving the big money offer from the Premier League giants.
Tottenham chairman Levy is now in constant talks with Baldini, who is part of the Roma hierarchy in an advisory role, and is trying to use his previous relationship with the Italian to earn a breakthrough in the negotiations.
Roma have also reportedly slapped a €100m price tag on Zaniolo and Tottenham might have to pay more than their current bid if they are to win the race for the highly rated talent.
Italian champions Juventus have also been keeping tabs on him and could jump into the fray if Tottenham progress in talks with Roma.
