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Tottenham Hotspur are hardly renowned for taking gambles in the transfer market but a recent report from Italian media outlet Calciomercato suggests they are ready to roll the dice on a maverick this summer.

What’s the word?

In an exclusive report, Calciomercato have claimed that Tottenham are set to go head-to-head with Juventus for the signature of Adrien Rabiot this summer.

Spurs held talks with the 24-year-old in the winter but they felt the player had his eyes on a move to Anfield instead.

However, the report reveals that the Champions League semi-finalists are now ready to break their wage structure in order to lure him to north London.

Traditionally Spurs have seldom been willing to break their wage structure, an approach which has been starkly criticised throughout the media, so it would be a massive statement from the club to compromise on their financial norms to accommodate the divisive playmaker.

Biggest gamble of Pochettino’s Spurs career

Rabiot was embroiled in controversy when he asked to be removed from the standby list from France’s World Cup winning squad in 2018.

It was a petulant act which underlined a potentially disruptive facet of his personality, lending plenty of reason for interested suitors to abandon a potential transfer pursuit.

Not only is Rabiot a known trouble maker, the fact Spurs could break their wage structure to facilitate a deal is one which threatens to unhinge the squad.

After all, the mercurial playmaker has hardly done anything groundbreaking in his career to justify that kind of special treatment, and that acknowledgement amongst Tottenham’s players could create a toxic feeling of resentment within the dressing room.

There’s no doubt those feelings would cease to exist if he proved to be a game-changing signing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but major question marks remain over the true extent of his ability.

Pochettino hasn’t taken a major risk in the transfer market since arriving at the club and his cautious approach has worked wonders so far.

But with a gifted player likely to be available on a free transfer this summer, it’s easy to see why Daniel Levy is tempted by this major gamble.