Report: Tottenham staff now feel they should have signed £15m Everton target

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According to The Athletic, staff at Tottenham regret their failure to sign Everton target Gavin Bazunu before his move to Premier League rivals Southampton.

What’s the story?

Well, the Republic of Ireland international surprisingly completed a £15m move to Southampton back in June, despite the fact he was yet to make his Premier League debut.

Bazunu is yet to keep a clean sheet in seven Premier League appearances for the Saints, although he has shown plenty of promise in between the sticks, leading to an interesting claim emerging from Tottenham.

The Athletic believe recruitment staff at Spurs regret failing to spot the 20-year-old sooner, as they feel he could be the long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris. The France international turns 36 in December.

Everton were also keen to sign Bazunu in the summer, according to The Athletic.

The Irishman wasn’t the only risk taken by Southampton.

Interestingly, Ralph Hasenhuttl and his team have decided to adopt a fresh recruitment policy of hoovering up the best talent from Champions League side’s academies.

It was first seen in 2021 as Tino Livramento was signed from Chelsea, before the approach went up a gear this year as Romeo Lavia, Samuel Edozie and Bazunu were signed from Manchester City for significant fees – for their age.

Tottenham & Everton should kick themselves

In our view, Tottenham and Everton should kick themselves after missing out on Bazunu.

Admittedly – as aforesaid – the prodigy from Dublin was yet to make his Premier League debut, although he still had immense amounts of experience for his age. We aren’t quite sure how Tottenham failed to spot him.

Bazunu has already won ten caps for the Republic of Ireland. He also kept 17 clean sheets in 46 appearances for Portsmouth last season in a campaign where he came of age in senior football.

Before that, the Southampton No.31 had racked up more senior experience with 32 appearances for Rochdale.

Finding an heir to Lloris will undoubtedly be difficult for Tottenham, but the north Londoners could have made things much easier for themselves by targeting Bazunu before Southampton.