Three targets named as Tottenham plot busy summer in 2022
Tottenham are reportedly looking to sign three players next summer in a bid to bolster their squad.
Managing director of football Fabio Paratici was busy during the recent window, bringing five new stars to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Bryan Gil, Pierluigi Gollini, Cristian Romero, Pape Sarr and Emerson Royal arrived for more than £116million.
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The fees owed to Atalanta for Gollini and Romero are likely to be paid next year as they have joined initially on loan.
According to Fichajes (via Caught Offside), Tottenham chiefs are already planning their 2022 transfer strategy and have lined up three potential targets.
The first is thought to be Inter Milan centre-back Stefan de Vrij. The Netherlands international played 42 times last season as Inter lifted the Serie A title.
He is an experienced defender who would bring plenty of steel to Nuno Espirito Santo’s backline. He could be targeted as a centre-back partner for Romero.
Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez have received criticism in recent seasons, which might explain why the club are looking at alternatives.
The second player mentioned by the report is AC Milan star Franck Kessie. The 24-year-old has previously been linked with Arsenal, although they opted to sign Albert Sambi Lokonga in the recent window.
Reports earlier this year claimed Milan had placed a £42m price tag on Kessie, which may put Spurs off.
The final name is a familiar one, Lyon’s Houssem Aouar. The playmaker has long been linked with a Premier League switch which is so far yet to materialise.
He is a highly-rated 23-year-old who scored eight goals and registered four assists last season. Like Kessie, Aouar is rumoured to be an Arsenal target, and they reignited their interest in him during August.
However, the Gunners prioritised outgoings on deadline after the arrival of Takehiro Tomiyasu, leaving the door open for a Spurs transfer in 2022.
Meanwhile, Paratici has given midfield starlet Sarr a glowing reference. The Senegal international was signed from Metz for £14.5m.
Paratici told the club’s official website: “I think Pape is one of the most talented in Europe. Our job is not to look just at tomorrow, but maybe also past tomorrow or next year. This is our job, and I think we made a great signing.
“In all of Europe they speak about this, a lot of teams were interested, a lot of teams were there to sign (him), so we made a very good signing. He needs experience, he needs to play games, to stay in one team and play regularly – a great investment for the club, and a great vision for the future.”