The winter window may be a distant memory, but the preparatory groundwork for the summer market is already being laid. And the name generating the mos...
The winter window may be a distant memory, but the preparatory groundwork for the summer market is already being laid. And the name generating the most static on the continent's telephone wires right now belongs to a young man from Norway. Andreas Schjelderup, a name that has been bouncing around scouting reports for a while, is no longer a secret. He is, according to sources close to GoalZaza, the target of a genuine four way scrap that pits Serie A ambition against Premier League muscle.Milan and Como, the two Italian clubs, are positioning themselves with very different pitches. Milan can offer the Champions League, the history, and a clear pathway for young attackers under a manager who is rebuilding a once great attack. Como, on the other hand, represent the fascinating new money project. They can offer him the starring role in a side that is trying to play progressive football, with less pressure but immediate gametime in one of Europe's top leagues. It is a classic choice: the established stage versus the starring role on a rising one.Then you look at the English interest. Liverpool and Spurs are the names circling the bait. Liverpool, with their need for a dynamic, versatile forward who can operate in the half spaces and exploit transitional play, would be a terrifying prospect for defenders. The Norwegian would be drilled into a relentless counter pressing machine at Anfield. Spurs, under a manager who likes technical, tricky wide players, could offer him the chance to be the main source of creativity in a side that is crying out for a consistent final ball. Can you see him linking with a proper number nine in London The tactical flexibility is there.What makes Schjelderup so coveted It is not just his goals, though he has shown a clinical finishing touch from wide areas. It is his low center of gravity and his understanding of space in a low block. He drifts, he waits, and then he strikes. He is not afraid to take a defender on, and more importantly, he is not afraid to lose the ball trying to make something happen. In an era of sterile possession, that bravery is a rare currency.The mathematics of the deal will be interesting. Benfica, who still hold a significant stake and a buyback clause, are lurking in the background. Any deal struck by Milan, Como, or the Premier League duo will have to account for that potential trigger. It adds a layer of complexity that could either speed things up or create a nasty bit of summer haggling. One thing is certain though. The boy has the talent, and the vultures are circling. The only question is who blinks first.
