Tottenham get boost in their pursuit of highly-rated Serie A defender.
Roberto De Zerbi guided Tottenham Hotspur to Premier League safety on the final day of the season. Spurs beat Everton 1-0 at home to stay in the division at the expense of London rivals West Ham.
The Italian head coach is well aware that his squad needs more quality and depth if they are to compete on all domestic fronts next season, starting with defence. Amid the uncertain futures of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, the club must sign a quality central defender. The full-back unit also needs reinforcing.
With Pedro Porro and Djed Spence in the roster, Tottenham are well-stocked as far as the right-back department is concerned. However, the same cannot be said about the left-back position. Destiny Udogie has failed to stay free from injuries since his first season in N17 in 2023. He has endured another injury-ravaged campaign, and for someone who is the first-choice left-back at the club, it is a concern that must be addressed in the next couple of months.
Tottenham get boost to land Juventus full-back
Recent reports suggest Tottenham have enquired about the availability of Juventus full-back Andrea Cambiaso. Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester City are also interested in his signature.
Since returning from his loan spell at Bologna in 2023, Andrea Cambiaso has been a mainstay in the Juventus side. The Italian international racked up 47 appearances in all competitions this past season, chipping in with three goals and five assists. However, with Juventus failing to qualify for next season’s Champions League, the left-back’s future in Turin has become uncertain.
According to Italian journalist Gianni Balzarini, Juventus are open to summer offers for Cambiaso. He has revealed that there are question marks over the full-back’s attitude, and he can no longer stay with the Old Lady.
“There are certain players who, in my opinion, can no longer stay there, also due to certain attitudes. Cambiaso, with his lack of danger perception—and he even laughs about it, or at least smiles about it—is a player who can no longer stay at Juventus because he no longer has the credibility to give his all for this team, at least from the outside,” Gianni Balzarini was quoted by Tutto Juve.
The journalist claimed that if any of his suitors offered €40m, Juventus should sanction a sale.
“So, if Barcelona’s interest in Cambiaso is confirmed, even at €40-50 million, Juve will pack him up and send him away. That is, because he no longer has the credibility to stay at Juventus. He has tactical intelligence, yes. He has the ability to play inside the pitch as a winger. Yes, but this year he hasn’t performed as well as he should have. Not even him,” he added.
Cambiaso could flourish in De Zerbi’s system at Tottenham
Cambiaso had an inconsistent season with Juve, and the same can be said about most of his teammates. The Turin giants failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, which should affect the club’s finances.
As Balzarini notes, the Serie A side are open to offloading the Italian full-back/wing-back if the right offer is presented. Given Cambiaso’s profile, he has the qualities to thrive in De Zerbi’s possession-based, aggressive and attacking system. An attacking full-back by trade, the 19-cap Italian international can play on the outside and drift into midfield when required. He’d give the tactical flexibility that Udogie lacks, whilst his durability makes him an immediate upgrade over his compatriot.
That said, Tottenham must look to test Juve’s resolve for Cambiaso.