Tottenham Hotspur are looking to sign a new central defender as a top priority this summer…
What’s the word?
That’s according to reliable football.london reporter Alasdair Gold, who has named Fulham loan sensation Joachim Andersen as a potential target.
The 24-year-old Dane has been courted with interest by Spurs in the past, and is among the centre-back options they are considering making a move for ahead of next season.
Would Joachim Andersen be a good signing for Spurs?
Yes, 100%
No way!
Scott Parker’s side have no option-to-buy the player, which means the Cottagers are at no advantage when the window re-opens, whilst Daniel Levy has previously negotiated with Andersen’s parent club, Lyon, and their president Jean-Michel Aulas.
Bye-bye Alderweireld?
Spurs may well have the third-best defensive record in the Premier League as it stands, but it’s clear to see that Jose Mourinho is concerned by the lack of leadership across his back four, having lost former vice-captain Jan Vertonghen in the summer.
Eric Dier is perhaps the most vocal of all his current central options, but his absence from the starting XI from the last five league games is cause for concern for the foreseeable future, as are his inconsistencies.
In contrast, Joe Rodon, 23, and Davinson Sanchez, 24, are nowhere near hitting their peak in the role and need considerable guidance, which is something they do not appear to be getting from Toby Alderwerield, who is a quieter influence in the dressing room.
The Belgian has also been linked with an exit this summer too. According to Voetbal24, the 32-year-old is a wanted man back in his home country, with Club Brugge keen to sign him.
Spurs’ biggest problem in signing a new ‘leader’ for Mourinho’s defensive line is finances, so the sale of Alderweireld could well help aid that, especially as Andersen’s impressive displays in the English top-flight – on top of the three years remaining on his Lyon contract – will surely see him become a coveted man in the summer.
Despite it being his first campaign in England, the Denmark international has worn the armband in 54% of his 24 league appearances. Only two players have performed better for Fulham as per average WhoScored ratings, who have graded Andersen at 6.86. A figure that neither Dier, Sanchez or Rodon can match.
Andersen, who is currently valued at just €20m (£18m) by the CIES Football Observatory, has been dubbed Fulham’s equivalent of Ruben Dias by Martin Keown and drew high praise following his performance against defending champions, Liverpool.
The Mirror’s chief football writer John Cross lauded the 6 foot 4 leader as “magnificent” whilst Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was audibly left in awe during his commentary.
An Alderweireld would be a hard exit to sanction, but Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge believes Andersen is exactly in the same mould as the long-serving Spurs man.
“Joachim Andersen reminds me of Alderweireld,” he wrote on Twitter.
On that basis, Levy should pull out all the stops for the Fulham loanee this summer. He can be the colossal presence Mourinho desperately requires in that backline for the foreseeable future.
AND in other news, Levy must strike dream Mourinho deal for £49.5m-rated “leader”…