Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou isn’t wasting time shoring up his defence.
Despite the January arrival of Romanian defender Radu Dragusin, football.london reports that Postecoglou wants further reinforcements in central defence.
The Australian manager faced a challenging spell earlier in the season.
Injuries to Micky van de Ven and a suspension for Cristian Romero forced him to get creative, fielding a makeshift backline consisting of four full-backs with Ben Davies and Emerson Royal slotting in at the heart of the defence.
With the prospect of European football looming next season, Postecoglou has already prioritised shoring up his backline ahead of a crucial summer transfer window.
Tosin Adarabioyo should be a priority target for Spurs
Tottenham will look to bring in a couple of British players across the squad to bolster their homegrown options, and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo could be the perfect summer acquisition.
Adarabioyo has previously been linked with a move to north London, and Spurs must step up their firm interest in the 26-year-old with other interested clubs circling.
The centre-back is expected to leave Fulham when his contract runs out at the end of the season, and his stats prove he would be a shrewd signing for Spurs.
Adarabioyo has been one of Fulham’s key players since recovering from groin surgery in November, establishing himself as one of the first names on Marco Silva’s team sheet.
He has helped keep five clean sheets this season, including one in the 3-0 win over Spurs at Craven Cottage. He averages 1.3 interceptions, 1.1 tackles, 2.1 ball recoveries and 3.6 clearances.
The Englishman is dominant in 1v1 situations, winning 56% of his ground battles, while his 6’4″ frame renders him nearly unbeatable in the air, boasting a 67% success rate in aerial duels.
Adarabioyo’s main issue in the past two seasons has been injuries. He has missed 12 games this term.
However, there is no downside to striking a deal as he is available on a free transfer, and Spurs simply cannot afford to miss out on a player of such high quality.
Adarabioyo would provide reliable cover for the dynamic Van de Ven – Romero partnership while establishing a tantalising back-up pairing alongside Dragusin.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com.
