Tottenham look as though they currently have an open window to complete a defensive transfer.
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Tottenham now look set to have a clear road to the signing of a title-winning centre-back. Spurs are hoping to strengthen further on deadline day, but time is running out, with the deadline at an earlier time of 7pm on Monday.
Thomas Frank has already been handed new signings like Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus, but there are other areas that still require more depth, especially ahead of a Champions League campaign.
A new striker could be targeted, with Dominic Solanke’s injury over the weekend serving as a reminder of the lack of true depth behind two strikers who have had their battles with injuries over the years. Meanwhile, defensive depth is also important, with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both struggling with injuries last season, while Radu Dragusin is going to remain out until early winter after the serious injury he suffered last season.
With those two players the clear starters, Frank will likely want to add a veteran player who can compete well and provide back-up but for an affordable fee. One player who fits that category is Manchester City star Manuel Akanji, who could be available for around £17.3million, and perhaps a little less.
Spurs have been credited with a strong interest, while AC Milan have also been tipped to make a move for the Swiss international. But it seems Milan are now going all out to sign Liverpool star Joe Gomez.
The issue is that Liverpool are unlikely to allow Gomez to leave unless they can get a deal for Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi over the line on deadline day, keeping in mind they are also in the process of wrapping up a record £125million deal for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak.
Fabrizio Romano has posted on X: “There’s still no green light for Joe Gomez to AC Milan from Liverpool. Marc Guehi deal not done yet at this stage and medical/travel timing also an issue.“
The good news in that update is that it seems as though Milan have made Gomez their clear number one target ahead of Akanji, and that could suggest Tottenham are ahead in the race to land the Manchester City veteran.
Akanji has enjoyed a solid spell with City, and Pep Guardiola previously said of him: “With [assistant manager] Carlos Vicens on set pieces, he said: ‘you only have to tell [Akanji] once [and] he knows it’. The movement defensively and offensively, he executes it perfectly. This is a gift for the manager. Some players, you have to explain ten times or train ten times to show what you are thinking or what you want to do. This guy needed just one training session and he got it.
“The movement he has to do as a full-back, the high pressing, he didn’t train once, and he did it perfectly. With the ball he is a magnificent player. Our build-up should be three in the back and that’s why in the position we normally play Kyle [Walker] or John [Stones]. He was absolutely perfect. Proof again that intelligent people, always it pays off.”