Tottenham's latest recruit, Kevin Danso, reportedly failed a medical at Juventus just days before his north London move. The 26-year-old defender joined Spurs on loan from Lens until the end of the season, with an obligation to make the move permanent for £21m in the summer.
Fellow Premier League side Wolves had also been discussing signing Danso throughout the January window, but Tottenham swooped in at the last minute to hijack the deal.
However, Alfredo Pedulla now reports that Juventus were also interested in Danso prior to his Spurs move, but had to abandon their plans due to a medical issue. This has perhaps left Ange Postecoglou, who has seen his backline embroiled in an injury crisis this season, rather worried.
It is suggested that The Old Lady initially agreed to buy Danso from Lens, but cancelled the agreement after a problem arose during his medical. They are now poised to bring in Lloyd Kelly from Newcastle.
This isn't the first time Danso has experienced such a situation, as Roma reportedly agreed to sign him last summer, only to backtrack after the medical examination, reports the Express.
With injuries to Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin as well as ongoing question marks surrounding Micky van de Ven's fitness, Tottenham manager Postecoglou will hope Danso remains fit for the rest of the season and that this reported failed medical will not result in any problems, especially as they pulled out of the running for Chelsea's Axel Disasi on Deadline Day.
Danso's failed medical aside, Postecoglou – whose team managed to win 2-0 at Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday without a recognised centre-half – couldn't hide his excitement after securing the defender's signature, enthusing: "It's brilliant [to get him]. I think Kevin will be a great fit for us. We're a little bit short at the back, we have been for a while.
"He's just really experienced, a good one-on-one defender. I've said before that getting new players in gives us energy and will give the group energy. I'm looking forward to him being part of the group."
Danso isn't a stranger to English football, either. Born in Austria to Ghanaian parents, he moved to Milton Keynes aged six and progressed through the academies of Reading and MK Dons before moving to German side Augsburg.
The defender also enjoyed a stint on loan with Southampton during the 2019/2020 season before joining Lens in 2021, where he made a name for himself in Ligue 1 and helped his team to Champions League football last season.
Spurs' next test, meanwhile, comes in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Liverpool on Thursday. Tottenham hold a 1-0 aggregate lead after a first-leg triumph in north London.