Chelsea’s deal for Axel Disasi has put another obstacle in the way of Tottenham Hotspur’s centre-half pursuit with Fulham ace Tosin Adarabioyo now set to replace the France international at Monaco.
That is according to French publication FootMercato.
Tottenham Hotspur, the report says, had hoped to bring Tosin Adarabioyo to North London this summer. But after agreeing to sell Disasi to Chelsea for a fee of £38 million, Monaco are wasting no time stepping up their pursuit of a successor.
Adarabioyo is reportedly ‘close’ to joining the Ligue 1 giants. A deal between Monaco and Fulham could even be completed before the weekend.
As such, Tottenham appear destined to see another centre-back target slip through their fingers, Ange Postecoglou seemingly no closer to strengthening a backline breached 63 times during a traumatic 2022/23 campaign.
Tottenham miss out on another defensive target
“We’re looking to bring in at least one (new defender),” Antonio Conte’s replacement told The Standard a week ago.
Since then, Bayer Leverkusen have all-but ruled out cashing in on Edmond Tapsoba. Blackburn Rovers have suddenly upped their demands for young Ashley Phillips. Talks regarding Wolfsburg’s Micky Van de Ven, meanwhile, are locked in limbo.
And, just to add to the frustration, Postecoglou’s hopes of raising further transfer funds via the sale of Davinson Sanchez has gone up in smoke too. Spurs had agreed to sell the long-serving Colombian to Spartak Moscow for a fee of £13 million, before Sanchez got cold feet regarding a potential move to Moscow.
“Yes, it’s true. Sanchez finally refused the possibility of moving to Spartak,” a representative speaking on behalf of the former Ajax youngster tells Sport Express.
“Is Sanchez’s refusal related to the political situation? The main reason was social life and, in general, the life and future of his wife and son,” adds his agent, Fernado Villarreal.
Monaco look set to also bring in Mohammed Salisu from relegated Southampton, while Fulham strengthened their own backline with former Ajax and Rangers man Calvin Bassey.
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