How many centre-backs do Spurs want!
Presumably Tottenham will go into the new season with five centre-backs, that seems to be the new way. It used to be that you had to have four forwards but now most teams only play with one striker only three are needed in a squad.
We have two experienced central defenders in Federico Fazio and Jan Vertonghen coupled with two young defenders in Eric Dier and new recruit Kevin Wimmer, who I believe we rate very highly for the future. Yes we have Younes Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches but nobody expects either to remain at White Hart Lane beyond this summer.
Fazio may not be experienced at Spurs but is a 28-year-old Argentinian international with 192 games with La Liga side Sevilla under his belt. He won the UEFA Europa League with them, as well as winning the Copa del Rey and an Under-20 World Cup. While some see him as being moved on I don't, he'll be here and expected to improve in his second season.
Jan Vertonghen is also 28 and a Belgian international with 69 caps, some as captain of his country. In his three seasons he has played 123 games for us. He too has won trophies, two Eredivisie titles and a Dutch cup success. He recently pointed out that Kevin Wimmer was not bought to replace him and that he is staying at Spurs.
That then gives us two experienced central defenders for the youngsters Eric Dier and Kevin Wimmer to grow around and eventually replace. I suspect we will play a lot with one experienced and one youngster, Vertonghen and Dier, Fazio and Wimmer.
That of course may get upset with injuries and some games may call for a different pairing but Vertonghen has called for a consistent back four to develop understanding and improve the sides defending.
Should we add to them to make it five then it will surely be another youngster. Toby Alderweireld has been mentioned, a 26-year-old who played with Jan Vertonghen while at Ajax, we didn't pursue an interest in 23-year-old Fabian Schär and have been linked with 20-year-old Sven van Beek before.
It is the last named we have been linked with again in the Italian press. They say ourselves and Southampton are chasing his signature. He is right footed, 1.90m (6ft 3in) tall and played a full season with Feyenoord after being introduced the season before in 15 games.
With a contract until 2018 and the Dutch clubs now having upped the prices for their players over the last couple of years we will have to decide how good we think he can become before we decide to make a move.
Of course we mustn't forget we have 19-year-old Miloš Veljković coming through, who if not leaned out will need to be bloodied in a few games, This should be the season when he starts to see some cameo game time so including him in squads for the UEFA Europa League as defensive cover would give him some exposure and experience.
We need two players for every position, if we buy another centre-back we might end up with three for both the central positions.
Related articles: Napoli ponder move for Vertonghen
Only one reason Spurs & Man U are included in an Arsenal story
We have two experienced central defenders in Federico Fazio and Jan Vertonghen coupled with two young defenders in Eric Dier and new recruit Kevin Wimmer, who I believe we rate very highly for the future. Yes we have Younes Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches but nobody expects either to remain at White Hart Lane beyond this summer.
Fazio may not be experienced at Spurs but is a 28-year-old Argentinian international with 192 games with La Liga side Sevilla under his belt. He won the UEFA Europa League with them, as well as winning the Copa del Rey and an Under-20 World Cup. While some see him as being moved on I don't, he'll be here and expected to improve in his second season.
Jan Vertonghen is also 28 and a Belgian international with 69 caps, some as captain of his country. In his three seasons he has played 123 games for us. He too has won trophies, two Eredivisie titles and a Dutch cup success. He recently pointed out that Kevin Wimmer was not bought to replace him and that he is staying at Spurs.
That then gives us two experienced central defenders for the youngsters Eric Dier and Kevin Wimmer to grow around and eventually replace. I suspect we will play a lot with one experienced and one youngster, Vertonghen and Dier, Fazio and Wimmer.
That of course may get upset with injuries and some games may call for a different pairing but Vertonghen has called for a consistent back four to develop understanding and improve the sides defending.
Should we add to them to make it five then it will surely be another youngster. Toby Alderweireld has been mentioned, a 26-year-old who played with Jan Vertonghen while at Ajax, we didn't pursue an interest in 23-year-old Fabian Schär and have been linked with 20-year-old Sven van Beek before.
It is the last named we have been linked with again in the Italian press. They say ourselves and Southampton are chasing his signature. He is right footed, 1.90m (6ft 3in) tall and played a full season with Feyenoord after being introduced the season before in 15 games.
With a contract until 2018 and the Dutch clubs now having upped the prices for their players over the last couple of years we will have to decide how good we think he can become before we decide to make a move.
Of course we mustn't forget we have 19-year-old Miloš Veljković coming through, who if not leaned out will need to be bloodied in a few games, This should be the season when he starts to see some cameo game time so including him in squads for the UEFA Europa League as defensive cover would give him some exposure and experience.
We need two players for every position, if we buy another centre-back we might end up with three for both the central positions.
Related articles: Napoli ponder move for Vertonghen
Only one reason Spurs & Man U are included in an Arsenal story
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