Tottenham prepare four-man defender shortlist including Leipzig star

Tottenham Hotspur await a busy summer transfer window, with Antonio Conte looking to strengthen the options on all fronts.

Defensive reinforcements are one of the priorities, and Spurs have drawn up a four-man shortlist for the left centre-back position, reports the Athletic.

Conte has stuck with a three-man backline at Spurs – as he had done with his previous clubs, with Cristian Romero, Eric Dier and Ben Davies being the first-choice line-up.

Despite Davies’ impressive performances, the North Londoners are looking to fortify the left centre-back position, with Josko Gvardiol, Alessandro Bastoni, Sven Botman and Nico Schlotterbeck making it to the wishlist.

Gvardiol turns out to be a revelation for Leipzig this season, having impressed in Bundesliga and European competitions.

The 20-year-old has established himself as a regular for Die Roten Bullen, making 38 appearances across all competitions.

However, the Croatian defender is still a long shot as Tottenham have to fork out more than £50 million for his signing.

Like Gvardiol, Inter Milan’s Bastoni is a far-fetched target as the Italian giants see him as a player for the future.

The 22-year-old turns out to be a key cog in the defence for Nerazzurri, playing a pivotal role in the Serie A triumph last season, which happened under the reign of Conte.

The Italian gaffer is also reportedly looking to reunite with Bastoni’s defensive partner Stefan de Vrig, who has been linked with an exit this summer.

Lille defender Botman is closing in on a transfer to Serie A giants AC Milan, meaning Tottenham’s chances are seemingly over.

The final target is Schlotterbeck, who has been impressive for SC Freiburg this season, helping his side compete for European places.

His rich vein of form also led to his debut for the German national team during the recent friendlies against the Netherlands.

The 22-year-old, who is also on the radar of Bayern Munich and Newcastle United, has recently hinted about an exit this summer, though he is contracted until 2023.

For Spurs, the German defender is the most affordable option of all the targets, with Freiburg valuing him at around £25 million.