For the most part, Tottenham Hotspur have been wheeling and dealing their prospects around to start the winter transfer window, shifting loan deals. Their biggest move thus far has actually been a sale, with right winger Brennan Johnson moving to local rivals Crystal Palace just before Mohammed Kudus's injury cut down Spurs to zero healthy right wingers.
The Johnson move was right at the time, and, thus far, most of the transfer rumors around Tottenham have been for other potential sales of unwanted players like striker Richarlison, center midfielder Yves Bissouma, and center back Radu Dragusin.
But quietly, while the trail for a new forward grows colder and colder, Tottenham were able to secure a new signing that will soon be official. Except instead of landing a forward or midfielder, Spurs bagged a defender in their only major area of need on the back line.
Tottenham have a deal in place now
Per Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham Hotspur have the fabled "here we go" and a deal reportedly in place for Santos phenom Souza at left back. Spurs had been negotiating with the Brazilian powerhouse for weeks for the 19 year old fullback, and they have now agreed to a 15 million euro deal after upping their bid from a measly 8 million euros. Having already agreed to personal terms, Spurs have now struck an agreement with Santos, as well as payment terms.
Souza matches the Tottenham plan of signing young stars before they truly become stars, just as they did with Mathys Tel, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, and Wilson Odobert. There are few left back prospects in the world as promising as Souza, and left backs do not exactly grow on trees.
Tottenham themselves know that as well as any club in the Premier League. They have one great left back in Destiny Udogie, but he needed the help and potential competition since he is so frequently injured. And behind him, Spurs have literally nobody, flipping between veteran center back Ben Davies and right back Djed Spence as an inverted option. And it is thus telling that of the two of them, Davies has actually been better.
Souza will come right in this January and get minutes. Udogie is still currently out with an injury, and while he should return relatively soon, there is still plenty of room for Souza to soak up starts and prove that he is worth the hype as the next big thing from Brazil at left back.