Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is yet to bring in any new central defenders this summer.
Tottenham appear no closer to solving their defensive issues with a deal for Micky van de Ven reportedly far from being agreed while Spurs have also been frustrated with their list of alternatives. Although Tottenham won the race to sign James Maddison this summer in a huge coup for the club, it’s in defence where investment is needed the most.
Last year’s defensive woes ultimately cost Tottenham the chance at playing European football this upcoming season. They ended the campaign conceding almost double the amount of goals that Newcastle did with the Magpies managing to secure a top-four finish.
Ange Postecoglou has already admitted on several occasions since joining the club as their new manager that changing things in defence is a top priority. But, other than an agreement being in place to sell Davinson Sanchez to Spartak Moscow, there’s been little to no progress made on those planned changes.
Van de Ven and Edmond Tapsoba have been the two names most strongly linked with moves to Tottenham. However, neither Wolfsburg or Bayer Leverkusen are in a rush to sell their top defenders.
Both of the Bundesliga stars are on long-term contracts, although Van de Ven is seen as the more viable option as he’s reportedly available for just £30million. Even that price is proving troublesome for Tottenham though as The Athletic report a ‘club-to-club agreement is not close’.
The report adds that Tottenham feel Wolfsburg aren’t entertaining the possibility of selling the 22-year-old this summer. It’s claimed that the next seven days ‘could be crucial’ in Tottenham’s hopes to sign Van de Ven.
Postecoglou has made it clear that he wants at least one new centre-back to arrive before the start of the Premier League season. The Tottenham boss recently said: “We’re juggling a few things there and looking to bring in at least one.”
