Tottenham plotting move for “elite” £18m defender who van de Ven knows well
Tottenham Hotspur are now plotting a move for an “elite” Premier League defender, who Micky van de Ven knows very well, according to a report.
Spurs looking to sign new centre-back
There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the future of Cristian Romero, as the 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, but Thomas Frank has now indicated the defender is set to remain at N17.
That said, perhaps given that his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, was left very light on options in defence at times last season, Frank remains keen on bringing in another centre-back, and AFC Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi has now emerged as a target.
Spurs are ready to shell out over £60m to get a deal for Zabarnyi over the line, but with the Bournemouth defender keen on joining PSG, Frank may be forced to move on to alternative options, and a different Premier League centre-back is now on the shortlist.
That is according to a report from France (via TEAMtalk), which states Tottenham are now eyeing a move for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, less than one year after the defender’s £18m move to Selhurst Park.
The way in which Lacroix has been able to adapt to the Premier League has caught Spurs’ eye, and the move would reunite the defender with former Wolfsburg teammate van de Ven, with the pair playing alongside eachother on 29 occasions in Germany.
With the 25-year-old contracted until 2029, however, Palace remain in a strong negotiating position, and there could be a great deal of rival interest, with the likes of Borrusia Dortmund and various Serie A clubs also keen.
“Elite” Lacroix could be excellent acquisition for Spurs
Hailed as an “elite defender” by journalist Tobias Kröger, the Palace star was a mainstay in Oliver Glasner’s side last season, making 35 appearances in the Premier League, while also starting in the victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
During his first season in England, the Frenchman’s defensive abilities were on display on a regular basis, with winning back possession his forte, suggesting he could now be ready to make the step-up to one of England’s biggest clubs.
Glasner is also clearly happy with the addition of the former Wolfsburg man, with the Palace boss saying: “It is great recruitment. The new players who came in this year, like Maxence Lacroix, like Daichi Kamada, showed an outstanding performance today and also at the Emirates.”
As such, Lacroix could be a solid signing for Tottenham, but it may be difficult to prise him away for Palace, given that the centre-back remains contracted until 2029.
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