Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy find themselves at a crucial juncture in their quest to strengthen their defense.
After securing the permanent transfer of Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus and signing Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli for £16.3 million, the club needs to focus on bolstering their backline.
In a surprising move, Tottenham announced the signing of James Maddison from Leicester City for £40 million.
Despite interest from Newcastle United, Maddison chose to join Spurs, even though they won’t be participating in European competitions in the upcoming season.
The defensive area remains the top priority for Tottenham, given their struggles at the back last season.
Fans and pundits alike are hopeful that Levy can secure a new center-back for head coach Ange Postecoglou.
Several names have been linked with a potential move to Spurs, including Edmond Tapsoba, Micky van de Ven, and Marc Guehi.
Tottenham has shown interest in Tapsoba, a 24-year-old center-back from Bayer Leverkusen. His pace and ball-playing abilities make him an ideal fit for Postecoglou’s system.
Valued at £26 million by CIES Football Observatory, Tapsoba could potentially be lured away from the BayArena in the near future.
However, if Tottenham succeeds in signing Tapsoba, they must consider his potential absence during the turn of the year.
Apart from Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma, and Pape Matar Sarr, who will be absent due to the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations, Tapsoba will also participate in the latter competition.
Burkina Faso, topping Group B in the qualification rounds, aims to make an impact when the tournament begins in Ivory Coast on January 13.
The Africa Cup of Nations was rescheduled from the summer to January, posing a significant challenge for Premier League managers.
With two tournaments occurring simultaneously, many teams will lose players of Asian or African descent to international duty.
Tottenham, therefore, must plan ahead meticulously to ensure adequate defensive cover and maintain performance levels if Tapsoba signs and departs in January.
If Tapsoba, Bissouma, or Sarr progress deep into the Africa Cup of Nations, they could potentially miss up to seven Spurs games.
The duration of their absence will depend on their departure dates and Tottenham’s progress in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
In January, Tottenham faces crucial fixtures in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, FA Cup fourth round, and Premier League matches against Manchester United and Brentford.
Early February poses further challenges, with Tottenham traveling to Everton before hosting Brighton. With key players absent, Postecoglou and Tottenham must navigate this period as effectively as possible until their return to club football.
In conclusion, Tottenham and Daniel Levy must prioritize strengthening their defense and consider potential absences due to international tournaments.
With Tapsoba being a prime target, Tottenham needs to plan strategically to maintain their defensive solidity and performance levels during his potential absence in January and February.
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