Tottenham Hotspur are now keen on signing an "amazing" defender, who is likely to be tempted by a move away from his current club in the summer, according to Graeme Bailey.
Tottenham eyeing defender amid Romero uncertainty
Tottenham have fallen way short of expectations in the Premier League this season, with Ange Postecoglou's side on course for a 17th-place finish, so it is little wonder that one of their key players has little interest in sticking around beyond the summer.
Back in April, it was revealed that Cristian Romero is now pushing to leave Spurs, with Daniel Levy cancelling talks over a new contract, which means the chairman could be tasked with bringing in a replacement at the end of the season.
AFC Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen is among the more ambitious targets, with the Lilywhites recently being linked with a £50m swoop for the Spaniard, who is also wanted by Real Madrid, while they remain keen on signing Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi after making a £70m bid in January.
Huijsen and Guehi have established themselves among the Premier League's best defenders with their performances this season, but there have also been suggestions that Spurs could make a move for more of an unproven quantity.
According to Bailey, in a report for EFL Analysis, Tottenham are now keen on signing Sutton United defender Jack Taylor, having conducted checks on the 20-year-old this season, alongside a whole host of other clubs.
Teams from across the EFL pyramid are interested in signing Taylor, including Bristol City, Millwall and Portsmouth, with West Ham United and Brentford likely to be the main rival suitors from within the Premier League.
The centre-back is set to enter the final year of his contract, and he is expected to be tempted by a move elsewhere this summer, despite Sutton's eagerness to tie him down to a new deal.
"Amazing" Taylor impressing at Sutton
Given that the defender played in the fifth tier in the 2024-25 campaign, he is unlikely to be capable of making the step-up to the Premier League in the near future, but there are some signs he could be a solid long-term addition to the squad.
Sutton manager Steve Morison expressed his disappointment when the youngster suffered a season-ending injury back in March, saying: “That’s probably his season done. We’re at the backend of the season now so anything over a couple of weeks; you’re not going to get them back, but he’s pulled his groin and it’s gutting because he’s been amazing.”
That said, Tottenham should also look to bring in a ready-made replacement for Romero alongside Taylor, given his inexperience, and there are a number of potential options on the shortlist.