Ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa, Antonio Conte reserved some special praise for a man more than deserving of his moment in the limelight.
“Ben is playing a fantastic season,” the Spurs boss said of Welsh international Davies.
“He’s a reliable player, he scored an important goal for us (in the 5-1 win against Newcastle) and I think he deserved to score this goal. Ben is playing in an important way with us, as a central defender and he’s showing that he’s a really good player.”
There appears to be a shelf-life on Davies’ eye-catching resurgence on the left of Conte’s favoured back three however. He’s proven to an excellent short-term solution. But Spurs are planning for the long-term.
Ben Davies out, David Carmo in?
According to The Athletic, Tottenham have already made a new left-sided centre-half one of their top priorities heading into the summer transfer window.
According to The Athletic, RB Leipzig’s Croatia international is closely followed by Nico Schlotterbeck, the seemingly Milan-bound Sven Botman and Conte’s former Inter favourite Alessandro Bastoni.
One name not on The Athletic’s four-man shortlist, however, is David Carmo. But could that change sooner rather than later?
Earlier this week, The Sun backed up claims by Fabrizio Romano, stating that a host of English, top-flight clubs are keeping tabs on Braga’s 22-year-old former Portugal U20 international. C
armo came within touching distance of a move to Anfield last year – Braga boss Carlos Carvalhal was ‘convinced’ his £21 million prized asset was on his way to Liverpool – but there’s another Premier League giant who need him a lot more than Jurgen Klopp’s side do right now.
Carmo, after all, favours his left foot. Like Botman, Schlotterbeck, Bastoni and Gvardiol. He is a commanding yet cultured central defender. One who’s ‘enormous physical capacity and tactical awareness’ has led to comparisons with Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos.
What’s more, Braga play with a back three – just like Conte’s Tottenham.
There’s no proof yet that Tottenham are one of the clubs targeting Carmo. But it would be a big surprise if they aren’t.
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