Talks are reportedly already underway: will U21 star Nicolo Tresoldi be moving to the Bundesliga this summer?

However, the Italian Football Federation is keeping a close eye on the situation. “If Gattuso wants to speak to me, I’d be delighted,” Tresoldi said in October, leaving the door open for the Squadra Azzurra, although he also spoke of a conscious decision to join the DFB.

He would be unlikely to turn down a World Cup spot – should Italy qualify in the play-off final against Bosnia – meaning the DFB would lose yet another top talent, following players such as Josip Stanisic (Croatia), Can Uzun and Kenan Yildiz (both Turkey).

In any case, there has been no contact with national team coach Julian Nagelsmann yet. “No one has got in touch with me,” said Tresoldi on Tuesday whilst with the German U21s, when asked about a possible World Cup opportunity with the DFB team.