Tottenham planning to sign new defender in January – Insider
Tottenham are plotting to sign a new centre-back in the January transfer window, according to the club’s former scout.
Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected at Spurs after his time at the club and also spent time with the likes of Man United and Aston Villa, exclusively told Football Insider that the club want to provide stronger cover at the back.
Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven remain the first-choice duo under Ange Postecoglou, but there is growing concern about the depth should either suffer an injury.
Radu Dragusin is the current backup option, but has turned in several unconvincing performances when called upon in place of the regular starters.
Brown was critical of the defensive stability in Postecoglou’s side even with the first-choice back line on the pitch as he compared to rival Premier League teams.
Tottenham have kept just two clean sheets in their opening nine games of the season, and the former scout believes the lack of depth has played a part.
Tottenham plot move to sign new centre-back in January
Depth at the back has been an issue under Postecoglou, who was often forced to turn to makeshift options last season, and those concerns have now emerged again.
Brown pointed to Manchester City and Arsenal as the benchmarks for Spurs’ success, insisting both teams are built on solid defensive foundations, while Tottenham “worry” him.
“Tottenham worry me defensively,” he told Football Insider.
“They fall down at the fundamentals, they’re just not good enough at the back. That’s even with their first-choice team on the pitch.
“Their strength in depth is an issue too because it makes rotation difficult.
“All the best teams have defensive units that you know you can rely upon every week.
“Look at Arsenal, for example, the big reason they’ve been able to challenge for the title is because of their defenders.
“Gabriel and Saliba are so solid at the back, and everybody does their bit.
“Man City as well, everybody talks about their attacking talent and rightly so, but their defence is outstanding with the likes of Dias, Ajanki and Gvardiol.
“They’ve got a settled pairing in Romero and Van de Ven, but behind them, they’re short of real quality options and strength in depth.
“From what I’m hearing, they want to bring in someone who can fill in if those two miss out.”
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