Tottenham are keen on Bundesliga pair Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven as potential options to strengthen their backline, according to reports.
Tottenham Hotspur are ‘still deciding’ who to ‘press the button on’ out of Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and Wolfsburg youngster Micky van de Ven, according to journalist Paul Brown.
What’s the latest regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Tapsoba and Van de Ven?
Cited by Kicker via Football London, Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has revealed that the Bundesliga outfit doesn’t plan to sell Tapsoba this summer despite heavy interest from Tottenham.
Rolfes stated in an interview quoted by the German outlet when asked if Tapsoba would leave Bayer Leverkusen: “No, not under normal circumstances. It’s clear that there will always be limits at some point. But Edmond is a very important player. He’s one of the top players in our team, without a doubt. He still has a long contract, so there’s no reason for us to think about letting him go.”
Tapsoba, who earns £37,000 per week on the books at the BayArena, featured 47 times in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen last season, registering two goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.
In the case of Van de Ven, CaughtOffside report that there is a gap in valuation between Wolfsburg and Tottenham regarding a potential fee for the £22k-a-week ace, which has led to Spurs widening their search for a new central defender.
Clement Lenglet, Tosin Adarabioyo, Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi are all under consideration as alternative targets in the event Van de Ven doesn’t pitch up at Hotspur Way this window.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown has indicated that Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou could act to sign two defensive reinforcements between now and the close of play in the market.
Brown told FFC: “We were told that Spurs would quite like to sign two centre-backs this summer. I think it’s pretty certain you will see one of those two names come in and then one other. I think Spurs are still deciding which one to press the button on first, frankly.”
Who else could join Tottenham Hotspur this window?
Spurs are in the market for several reinforcements as Postecoglou looks to revive fortunes at the club following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign.
Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has claimed that Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani is on Tottenham’s radar this window in the event that Harry Kane leaves the club, with a figure of €80 million being mentioned as a potential fee for the France international.
Pedro, who plies his trade for Flamengo in Brazil’s Serie A, is also under consideration for the Lilywhites as a potential alternative to Kane this window, as per The Independent.
Atalanta rising star Rasmus Hojlund could’ve come into the conversation; however, Manchester United’s ‘advances’ to try and secure the signature of the Danish sensation are likely to put to bed any notion of a late offensive from Spurs.
Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki is believed to have held talks with both Tottenham and Chelsea over swapping Ligue 1 for the Premier League and his representatives jetted into London recently to discuss his potential next move, according to FootballTransfers.
La Liga giants Real Madrid are ‘long-term’ admirers of the 19-year-old, who has also garnered attention from French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Tottenham Hotspur have potentially been offered the chance to sign Bayern Munich defender, Benjamin Pavard, with the Frenchman tipped to be included as part of a deal that would see Harry Kane head in the other direction.
How much is Pavard worth?
As per 90min, the Bundesliga side are keen to step their interest in the Spurs talisman by arranging a meeting with chairman Daniel Levy, with Thomas Tuchel’s side having already seen two bids for the 29-year-old knocked back so far this summer.
The piece reveals that the German giants have ‘floated the idea’ of including a member of their first-team squad as part of their next bid to sign the England skipper, with Pavard among those who could be ‘on the table’.
The belief is that the World Cup winner – who has reportedly been valued at €30m (£26m) with just a year left on his current contract – may be ‘attached’ to what would prove to be a club-record offer from Bayern of around £86m.
The report does go on to note that ‘there is little to suggest that this will entice Tottenham’, despite the fact that the north Londoners are yet to sign a new centre-back – amid ongoing talks with Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven.
How good is Benjamin Pavard?
As the reported noted, Tottenham man not initially be enticed by the idea of signing the 27-year-old, although the versatile ace – who can also feature at right-back – could well emerge as a real leader at N17 if he is to join Ange Postecoglou’s ranks.
Previously described as “underrated” by Tuchel – while also being hailed as “outstanding” by former Bayern president Uli Hoeneß – the £83k-per-week machine could prove to be a wise investment for Levy and co, particularly amid his apparent statistical similarity to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, according to Opta’s Player Radars.
That likeness between the pair is illustrated by just how comfortable the two men are when playing out from the back, with Pavard ranking among the very best in Europe for touches made as a sign of his willingness to get on the ball, while Van Dijk ranks in the top 2% in that regard.
In a defensive sense, the duo are both able to offer a real physical presence at the heart of the backline and rarely give opposition forwards a moment’s peace, with the Anfield icon ranking in the top 10% for aerial duels won, while Pavard ranks in the top 24% for that same metric.
That ability to sense danger can also be seen in the fact that the former Stuttgart titan ranks in the top 26% with regard to possession won, while Van Dijk is only just behind as he ranks in the top 36%.
To be likened to the influential Dutchman is high praise indeed, with the 32-year-old having been a real driving force for the Merseyside outfit over recent years, with ex-Liverpool man Jamie Carragher stating earlier this year that no centre-back “has ever had” such an “impact” on a team in the Premier League era.
With Pavard only slightly older than Van Dijk was when he joined the Reds from Southampton back in January 2018 – having been 26 at the time – perhaps the Frenchman can have a similar ‘impact’ for Spurs over the coming years.
