Fabrizio Romano, an expert on the European transfer market, appeared on the British media “Cutoffside”‘s “Divreep Podcast” on the 18th (Korea Standard Time) and spoke about recruiting Tottenham defenders.
Reinforcing defense in the 2023 summer transfer market is a task that Tottenham must solve. Tottenham allowed a total of 63 runs in 38 Premier League games in the 2022/23 season. This is the record for the most runs in Tottenham’s single season since the Premier League changed to a 38-game system.
Tottenham, which recorded the most runs in just 30 years since the 2002/03 season (62 runs), ended up in eighth place in the league due to severe defensive instability throughout the season and failed to advance to the European competition.
Tottenham, which desperately needs a rebound next season, has strengthened its power by bringing in midfielder James Madison and winger Manor Solomon, starting with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, when the summer transfer market began, but the most important defender has yet to be recruited.
With the attention focused on which defender Tottenham will recruit, Romano claimed that Tottenham is currently weighing Edmond Topsova (Bayel Leverkusen) and Mickey van der Pen (Volpsburg).
Burkina Faso defender Topsova, born in 1999, is also considered a top Bundesliga defender as he plays as the main center back for Leverkusen. Dutch defender van der Pen, born in 2001, is also called the “second Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)” as he is considered a player with high potential as a fast left-footed center back.
Tottenham, which desperately needs a rebound next season, has strengthened its power by bringing in midfielder James Madison and winger Manor Solomon, starting with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, when the summer transfer market began, but the most important defender has yet to be recruited.
With the attention focused on which defender Tottenham will recruit, Romano claimed that Tottenham is currently weighing Edmond Topsova (Bayel Leverkusen) and Mickey van der Pen (Volpsburg).
Burkina Faso defender Topsova, born in 1999, is also considered a top Bundesliga defender as he plays as the main center back for Leverkusen. Dutch defender van der Pen, born in 2001, is also called the “second Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)” as he is considered a player with high potential as a fast left-footed center back.
Reporter Romano explained, “Tottenham’s strategy is to negotiate with two players in the same position and then attack the player they want the most.”
“This is why Tottenham is talking to Wolfsburg over Panderpen,” he said adding, “According to my information, Topsoba is Tottenham’s best option, but it is important whether Tottenham can reach a compromise with Leverkusen because the transfer fee is higher.”
“Tottenham will soon have a new conversation with Leverkusen to recruit Topsoba,” he said adding, “If the deal does not proceed, Tottenham will turn to Panderpen.”
According to local reports in Germany, Leverkusen wants at least 50 million euros (about 70.9 billion won) as a transfer fee for Topsoba. On the other hand, Tottenham is in trouble as it seems that 40 million euros (about 56.7 billion won) will be needed to recruit Panderpen.
The summer pre-season has already begun while Tottenham is torn between the two players, who are about 14 billion won different from Hanwha. Initially, Tottenham’s No. 1 priority was Panderpen, but it seems to be agonizing over the transfer fee of Topsoba, who judged it to be better in terms of skills.
Tottenham players, who entered the pre-season to prepare for the 2023/24 season, gathered at a club training ground in London, England, and then immediately left for the Asian tour and are currently training in Australia.
Soon after starting their Asian tour, Tottenham will also start their first friendly match of the pre-season. A friendly match against West Ham United, the same Premier League club, is scheduled in Perth, Australia, at 8 p.m. Korean time on the 18th.
As the season continues to open as time goes by, Tottenham should recruit defenders as soon as possible to work with existing players, but the reinforcement of defenders is slow due to the transfer fee.