Manager reveals interest in signing £10m rated Tottenham fringe player
By Dominic Toner
Swansea manager Bob Bradley has confirmed that the club are monitoring Tottenham midfielder Tom Carroll.
The Sun reported on Sunday that the Wales-based club are keen to sign the 24-year-old who is a £10million-rated target.
Carroll is on the fringes of the Spurs squad this season and has made just one substitute appearance in the Premier League.
Swansea boss Bradley has explained that the club have discussed signing the central midfielder, who spent a season on loan at the Liberty Stadium in the 2014/15 season.
“Tom is a player who everyone here knows,” Bradley said, as quoted by Wales Online. “He’s been around in the past, he’s certainly a good footballer and he’s a player who has been discussed.
“What Tom brings as a footballer is he is technically sharp, a good passer, and those are qualities a team can use.”
Carroll is currently low down the pecking order at Spurs, with several world-class midfielders in the squad ahead of him.
Victor Wanyama, Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier are all contesting a starting role, with youngster Harry Winks also emerging as an option this season.
Carroll is extremely unlikely to force his way back into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans and the former England Under-21 international may be seeking regular first team football at a crucial part of his career.
The central midfielder thrives on a possession-based game and has a great range of passing.
He is a product of Spurs academy and has been loaned out to Leyton Orient, Derby, QPR and Swansea during his career.
Football Insider verdict:
Spurs should allow midfielder Carroll to leave White Hart Lane as he has still not made a major breakthrough at 24. The midfielder was once considered the club’s upcoming star, but it is youngster Winks who is now fulfilling that role. Carroll has showed his qualities during his 56 appearances for the north London club, but is now entering the peak of his career and needs regular football. He looked like a good fit at Swansea and should be able to become a crucial player for the Wales club. Spurs have plenty of options to cope with Carroll’s departure and should let him take the next step in his career.
In other Tottenham transfer news, the club are set to make an approach for a Premier League attacker who is a keen on a move.