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Premier League side agree deal to sign replacement for £12m defender who Tottenham want to buy
- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Tottenham Hotspur have now been handed some very encouraging news given their interest in signing a Premier League defender this summer.
Ange Postecoglou has already added one player who can help his back line next season, Leeds United’s Archie Gray.
Although predominantly a defensive midfielder, Gray is very comfortable playing as a right-back and can cover for Pedro Porro as needed.
Otherwise, Tottenham still need better cover for Destiny Udogie, who doesn’t have a natural replacement in the squad right now.
Micky van de Ven moved to the left when Udogie was missing at the end of the season, but that’s unlikely a plan that Postecoglou would like to repeat.
That being said, TBR Football understands that Southampton have now agreed terms to sign a replacement for Kyle Walker-Peters, who Tottenham would like to bring back to North London.
Southampton have agreed a deal to bring Yukinari Sugawara to the club from AZ Alkmaar to act as a replacement for Walker-Peters.
West Ham in talks to beat Tottenham to Kyle Walker-Peters deal
Walker-Peters is also of interest to West Ham United, who have held talks to sign the England international.
But TBR is also told that Tottenham retain an interest in taking the full-back back to the club.
Once the Sugawara deal is confirmed, TBR understands that a departure for Walker-Peters will soon follow.
Of course, re-signing Walker-Peters, who left the club for in 2020, would make a lot of sense for Postecoglou’s project.
The 27-year-old is equally adept on each side of the defence, able to play a variety of roles including an inverted one moving into midfield.
The former Tottenham man could provide cover for both Udogie and Porro, who won’t be able to play every minute in a season which includes a Europa League campaign.
Right now, Spurs’ squad isn’t well-equipped for the amount of games the clubs will have next season, and the most glaring lack of depth is at the back.
There’s no issue with Postecoglou’s starting back four, but the manager then only really has Radu Dragusin capable of fulfilling his tactical demands beyond.
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