In three weeks' time, Antonio Conte and his Tottenham team will step out at the San Siro as the Champions League knockout phase commences. Having progressed from Group D after a crazy night in Marseille at the beginning of November, Spurs' reward for topping their group is a Round of 16 clash against AC Milan.
Their visit to the Italian city will bring about many happy memories for Tottenham fans following their triumph against the Rossoneri in the same round of the competition back in 2011. Managing to defeat AC Milan over two legs 12 years ago, all will be hoping history repeats itself this time around as Spurs look to go far in the Champions League after such a mixed campaign to date.
The fixture could potentially see Arnaut Danjuma make his European debut for the Lilywhites after the north London club hijacked the Dutch international's loan move to Everton. On course to join the Toffees on a temporary deal until the end of the campaign with his medical, media and agreements all reportedly complete, the player has made a dramatic U-turn and is now set to boost Conte's forward line instead.
READ MORE: Tottenham make late transfer swoop to hijack Everton deal for Villarreal attacker Arnaut Danjuma
football.london understands that the player is en route to Tottenham's Hotspur Way complex to complete his medical at the club. The ex-Bournemouth man will certainly give Conte options over the course of the second half of the season due to his versatility.
Mainly operating on the left wing throughout his career, the Lagos-born star can also play up front as either a lone striker or a support striker. Following a standout season with Bournemouth in the Championship in 2020/21 after registering 17 goals and eight assists from his 37 appearances in all competitions, the Netherlands star sealed a move to Villarreal in a £21.3million deal.
Danjuma was a huge hit in his first season at Estadio de la Ceramica, notching 16 goals in his 34 appearances for the Yellow Submarines. That total included six goals in the Champions League as the attacker helped the Spanish side reach the semi-finals of the competition against the odds.
Scoring four times in the group stage, Danjuma crucially scored twice in the knockout phase when they went up against Juventus and Bayern Munich. That experience of playing in the Champions League and also scoring important goals in the competition will only help out Tottenham as they look to advance past AC Milan come the start of March.
Now set to compete with the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison, Bryan Gil and Lucas Moura for a place in the Tottenham team, Conte having another option on his bench who has experience of playing and scoring in huge Champions League games could prove decisive. Speaking to The Athletic in December, the former Club Brugge man discussed playing in the Champions League and making an impact in the competition.
“Everything I’ve done has always been a means for me to set myself up and make sure I play the highest platform of football [the Champions League], which I’ve achieved; not only playing there but delivering as well," he admitted. "So everything I’ve done in my career has always been strategic in that sense.”
The arrival of Danjuma certainly boosts Tottenham's attack going into what remains of the season, with the potential further addition of Pedro Porro from Sporting CP, if they can get a deal over the line, another who can add some much-needed Champions League quality following his success in the competition in 2022/23. Everton's loss may well turn out to be Tottenham's gain.
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