Spurs ‘choose priority January transfer’ as Postecoglou’s concerns over new key player
Spurs search for January reinforcements as manager faces long spell without key player
Tottenham Hotspur could have to look to the January transfer market for a new central defender after one of their key players was ruled out for an extended period of time with a suspension.
Spurs suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, losing 4-1 at home to Chelsea after Cristian Romero was sent off for a second yellow card in the first half.
Postecoglou will now have to deal with the loss of a centre-back after Micky Van de Ven was sidelined for the rest of the season.
The Dutchman was stretchered off the field with a torn ligament in his left leg following a challenge on the ball as he ran towards goal and had to be helped off by Tottenham’s medical staff.
The injury seemed to be more serious than initially thought, as it appeared to be more than just a strain or pull of a muscle, and now he is likely to be out for an extended period of time.
He is set to have a scan to find out the full extent of the injury, although he was spotted at the club’s training ground on Saturday ahead of their clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
If that’s bad news for him, it’s good news for the club as they already have their top target lined up to provide defensive cover.
Lloyd Kelly was on the radar of the club throughout the summer and could now be set for a January move, with The Standard reporting that they are ready to revive their interest.
The defender joined the club on a one-year deal for £43m.
The Englishman had been mentioned as a potential target this summer, before Spurs went after Van de Ven and others, but his injury has highlighted the need for a centre-back cover, and Spurs’ interest in him will not come as a surprise, especially as Eric Dier’s future hangs in the balance.
Is 18-year-old Ashley Phillips ready to make his first-team debut?
The former Blackburn player has yet to play a senior game for the club and is expected to need time to gel with manager Paul Lambert before making the step up to the first team.
Spurs boss Matt Wells, in charge of the club’s defensive set-up, is said to be a big admirer of Kelly’s after working with the former Bournemouth assistant when he was in charge of Scott Parker at the club.
Kelly, a former England U21 international, would help to meet Spurs’ homegrown quota and could also be content to be a squad player rather than try to force his way into the starting line-up next year.
The club’s new technical director, Johan Lange, and chief scout, Rob Mackenzie, will be in close contact with postecoglou, who will be in charge of the search for new recruits in January, though the Australian will have the final say over all new arrivals.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ centre-back pairing of Dier and Romero is likely to be affected by Romero’s absence, while Van de Ven is likely to be out of the clash as well.
Spurs’s centre-back pairing could be Pierre-Emir Dembele and Joao Moutinho after the Dane’s excellent second-half cameo against Chelsea.
