Tottenham are busy revamping their squad under Ange Postecoglou with goalkeeper David Raya now one of their top targets. Spurs are looking to replace runaway captain Hugo Lloris and Brentford's Raya - one of the Premier League's best - is effectively up for sale when his contract expires next summer.
The bees are demanding £40m but Spurs are keen to broker a cheaper deal for a goalkeeper who has admitted he wants to move on, with Manchester United and Chelsea also potential destinations. Tottenham have alternatives - such as Valencia's Giorgi Mamardashvili - but Raya seems to be the easiest deal to do at a price that suits them.
He was also a perfect choice for new manager Postecoglou after proving his extraordinary possession for Brentford as well as a superb save. Another top priority after a new goalkeeper is signed is centre-back, with Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier both likely to leave.
The north London side conceded 63 times in 38 league appearances last season, at least 10 more than any other team in the top 10. And there's a player who could perfectly fit in. Postecoglou's ball control style - Aymeric Laporte.
The Spaniard is set to leave Manchester City this summer after making just 12 Premier League appearances during the treble campaign last season. According to Football.London, Spurs are among the clubs monitoring his situation. When Postecoglou wanted to develop his signature style of play at his new club, the Australian needed defenders who could hold the ball comfortably and also play forward. With a switch to a 4-3-3 expected formation, Laporte would be the perfect left-back to partner Cristian Romero.
While Ruben Dias and John Stones are favored over Laporte at City, the 29-year-old remains one of Europe's best ball-holding defenders - and he offers much more. His arrival at Spurs could have the same transformative impact as champion teammates Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko had at Arsenal.
Laporte could be the leader of Spurs' new defence. Having him alongside Raya, or another goalkeeper of similar style, would greatly help Postecoglou in their efforts to deploy the squad from behind. The problem will of course be Laporte's temptation at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The former Athletic Bilbao defender will receive a number of offers, including from La Liga champions Barcelona. What Spurs can offer him is a guaranteed starting spot, a very high salary and a starting spot in the Premier League. But he is a centre-back at Champions League level and the Londoner has no place in next season's European Cup. The possibility of his return to his homeland may well prove too tempting to ignore. What is certain is that a deal will require a lot of negotiation on the part of Daniel Levy. But if he can succeed, Spurs will land one of the signings of the summer and a player who can make a big impact on and off the pitch, just as Jesus and Zinchenko did for Arsenal.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0