Serie A outfit Bologna have reportedly identified Tottenham Hotspur striker Alejo Veliz as a loan target for the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old was poached by the Lilywhites from Rosario Central in the summer transfer window, costing the club €15m (£13.2m) to bring to North London.

Rather than send Veliz back on loan to Argentina, Ange Postecoglou immediately integrated the striker into the squad as Tottenham begun life without all-time top goalscorer Harry Kane.

However, Richarlison and Son Heung-min have been preferred at the tip of the Lilywhites' attack in the early stages of the 2023-24 season, restricting Veliz to three Premier League appearances from the bench.

After making substitute appearances in the dying embers against Liverpool, Fulham and Luton Town, Veliz dropped back down to Under-21 level and scored his first goal for the youth team in a 3-1 EFL Trophy loss to Peterborough United on October 31.

First-team minutes are still hard to come by for Veliz, though, and he was an unused substitute during last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

With Richarlison joining Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon, James Maddison and Ryan Sessegnon in the treatment room, Veliz could earn more opportunities to impress in the festive period, and the striker possesses a long-running contract until 2029.

Nevertheless, a loan deal in January is supposedly not off the cards, and Calciomercato claims that Bologna are interested in taking Veliz on a temporary move for the second half of the season.

AC Milan apparently discussed a deal for the Argentina Under-20 international while he was representing Rosario Central, but talks never reached an advanced stage.

In contrast, Serie A rivals Torino placed a bid of €6m (£5.3m) on the table, but the offer was swiftly rejected by Rosario Central, allowing Tottenham to swoop in with a more lucrative package.

Now, Veliz is said to be Bologna's number one attacking target for the winter window, but Tottenham may be reluctant to let him leave given their shortages in the number nine role.

However, the Lilywhites may be willing to sanction the temporary exit of Jamie Donley, who has been in immense form for the Under-21s this season, amassing six goals and 11 assists from 11 appearances.

The 18-year-old has either scored or assisted in all of his club appearances throughout the 2023-24 campaign, and he netted his first two goals for England's Under-19s in a 6-0 friendly win over Romania on Wednesday.

League One clubs, including Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient, are said to be showing an interest in Donley, and Spurs are weighing up whether to send him on loan for the second half of the season.

Tottenham, who sit fourth in the Premier League table, are back in action with the visit of Aston Villa to North London on November 26. body check tags ::