Tottenham Hotspur are joining Newcastle United in the race to sign Freiburg defender Nico Schlotterbeck as they chase a left-sided centre back.
That’s according to a new report from The Athletic, who claim that Tottenham have four left-sided centre backs on their wish list.
The names of RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, Inter MIlan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Lille’s Sven Botman have been heavily linked already.
Yet the new name on the list is Schlotterbeck, with Tottenham believed to be eyeing up a huge move.
Bastoni and Gvardiol are the top targets but don’t rule out Schlotterbeck despite major interest from elsewhere.
The report notes that Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are both keen on Schlotterbeck.
Newcastle United allegedly offered a huge £40million for Schlotterbeck in January but the Freiburg star rejected the move.
Tottenham will need to come up with considerable cash for Schlotterbeck, but his price tag will be declining given that he is out of contract next summer.
Schlotterbeck, 22, has bagged four goals in 26 Bundesliga games this season, showing he’s an attacking threat as well as being superb defensively.
6ft 3in tall, quick, comfortable on the ball and having played as a left back in the past, Schlotterbeck seems like the ideal profile for Tottenham.
Ben Davies has performed admirably as a left-sided centre back under Antonio Conte but Schlotterbeck would be a level above for Tottenham.
Schlotterbeck has though admitted that he isn’t all that interested in playing in England and would prefer to join a German powerhouse.
That may well leave Bayern and Dortmund in the box seat for the Germany international.
Schlotterbeck is absolutely the kind of player Tottenham need to be going for, similar to Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski; an international player in his early 20’s who can make an immediate impact but will have resale value too.
A deal may be difficult, but look for Tottenham to push for Schlotterbeck this summer if they can’t get Gvardiol or Bastoni.
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