The Lilywhites desperately need fresh blood across the backline and an attacking Uruguayan standout suddenly fits the bill perfectly.
Rebuilding a fractured squad takes ruthless decision-making behind the scenes. Roberto De Zerbi knows exactly what he wants following the recent brutal relegation scrap. Fixing the left side of the defence stands out as a massive priority, and the futures of Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie also look uncertain.
Spurs need reliable replacements fast, and Sporting CP sensation Maximiliano Araujo sits right at the very top of the shopping list. The player produced absolute magic last year by bagging seven goals and providing six assists across forty seven total appearances, and that kind of elite attacking output from a defensive position rarely goes unnoticed.
Tactical flexibility makes him an even bigger asset for the technical team. Araujo operates effortlessly on the left side as a traditional full back and sometimes even an advanced winger. However, his disciplinary issues remain a bit of a concern.
The North Londoners face a fierce bidding war to secure the €50m rated Sporting defender
Playing in the Premier League clearly appeals to the talented player. He visited Wembley back in March with the national team and dropped a massive transfer hint. “It will be my first time in England. Let it be the first of many,” Araujo stated.“It will be incredible, a huge opportunity, and I will make the most of it”.
Sporting CP hold all the cards with a contract running until 2029. They flatly refuse to accept anything less than fifty million euros to start talks. That hefty asking price still represents a solid discount compared to his massive eighty million euro release clause.
The Lilywhites are not the only club knocking on the door. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Atletico Madrid are all circling like sharks. A formal bidding war will surely explode after the World Cup finishes. Araujo kicks off his tournament against Saudi Arabia on Monday.