Tottenham could make a bid for Serie A star to strengthen their defensive unit.
Tottenham Hotspur have entered the summer with a clear plan in place, which is quite a refreshing experience for the fans.
The priority appears to be addressing the lacunas in the backline that leaked close to 60 goals in the Premier League this past season. Spurs have shown a proactive approach by snapping up Andy Robertson on a free transfer from Liverpool. Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi is set to follow suit, but Tottenham’s defensive refurbishment doesn’t look like stopping any time soon.
Roberto De Zerbi is seeking a reunion with Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke in N17. Tottenham have agreed personal terms with Van Hecke and are formulating a third bid for the 26-year-old. In Van Hecke, Spurs would be signing one of the most reliable centre-halves in the Premier League in the last couple of years.
Alongside the Dutchman, it looks like the Lilywhites are keeping tabs on a Serie A star.
Tottenham plan to make an offer for Juventus defender
According to Italian daily La Repubblica (h/t Tutto Juve), Tottenham could make an offer for Gleison Bremer as Juventus now sees the defender as ‘expendable’. The Old Lady will look to ensure they meet the financial fair play regulations, given they narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, and the Brazilian international could be sacrificed in the process.
Gleison Bremer has been Juventus’ standout defender for the past few years. One of the most physically dominant and effective centre-backs in European football, the 29-year-old endured an injury-curtailed campaign at the Allianz Stadium. Yet, he managed to make an impact at both ends of the pitch when fit, chipping in with seven goal contributions in the league and putting in hard yards at the back as usual.
The Brazilian international still has three years left on his contract, which is safeguarded by an €58m release clause. However, the report adds that Juventus’ poor financial situation may force them to accept a lower figure than Bremer’s release clause, which is something Spurs are looking to take advantage of.
Tactic to reduce Van Hecke’s asking price
Tottenham have already seen two bids rejected for Van Hecke, with Brighton holding out for a fee in the region of £70 million despite the defender having just one year left on his contract. The 26-year-old, who is currently with the Netherlands squad at the World Cup, has shown his desire to reunite with De Zerbi by agreeing personal terms with Spurs.
Whilst in talks with the Seagulls for the Dutch defender, the North Londoners showing interest in Bremer at the same time is totally bizarre. Undoubtedly, Bremer is a top defender and would be an excellent acquisition, but if the club are so much invested in bringing Van Hecke to White Hart Lane, it does not make sense to chase another centre-back, especially when they’ve already agreed a deal with Senesi.
So, it clearly looks like a tactic to force Brighton to reduce their £70million asking price for their star Dutchman. As Van Hecke is not interested in penning a new contract, this is the Seagulls’ last notable chance to get a sizeable fee. In seven months, he’d be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club.
Tottenham are well aware of the entire situation and wants to pay a reasonable fee for Van Hecke.