Tottenham Hotspur have added Newcastle United transfer target Amar Dedic to their shortlist of Djed Spence replacements, according to GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.
Tottenham have already signed six new players for Roberto De Zerbi this summer, and they are working on two more deals for Savinho and Cody Gakpo of Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.
With so many players coming to Spurs, it is inevitable that some first-team players will be on their way too, with Spence and Cristian Romero set to join Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in the coming hours and days.
While Tottenham are well-stocked at left-back, it is a different story on the opposite flank where World Cup winner Pedro Porro is the undoubted first-choice right-back after signing a new long-term deal this summer, but he has little specialist competition for his spot.
Archie Gray can play there but his main position is in midfield, meaning it is no surprise that the north London outfit are likely to bring in a replacement for Spence before the September 1 deadline.
Fabrizio Romano has reported in recent days that Newcastle are closing in on an agreement with Benfica to sign Dedic, who has agreed personal terms on a move to St James' Park.
He is a player of interest to Spurs too as they consider their right-back options too, according to Jacobs, speaking on the Last Word on Spurs live stream late on Wednesday night.
He said: "Another hotly sought-after fullback that I believe is capable of playing both sides is Amar Dedic, who is at Benfica, a player that Matthias Jaissle knows very well, and it's Newcastle moving at the moment, and they've got confidence.
But he's made the Tottenham shortlist as one possibility as well. I'm not aware of any kind of formal approach yet to the player side or to Benfica, but it just shows you that they're starting to shortlist names now.
"I feel they'll be better prepared because they will have known for quite some time that there was a concrete possibility that Spence could go."
Tottenham Need to Make Fast Move to Land Dedic
As mentioned, Newcastle appear to be close to wrapping up a deal for the Bosnia and Herzegovina international, meaning it would need a last-gasp Tottenham transfer hijack to land the 23-year-old from under their noses.
The Magpies will be more than wary of that happening though, given they have already lost out on deals for Victor Munoz and Johan Manzambi this summer.
Dedic is only one of the names on Spurs' shortlist, with further links to Neco Williams of Nottingham Forest and Daniel Munoz of Crystal Palace.
De Zerbi's preference for players with Premier League experience is no secret given all six confirmed arrivals this summer have it, along with Savinho and Gakpo.
That could mean that while there is clearly an appreciation for Dedic, other targets could be prioritised given the player appears to be moving closer to joining Newcastle.