Reported Tottenham Hotspur target Stefan Posch admits he came oh so close to joining Premier League rivals Arsenal before making a name for himself in the Bundesliga, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.
If Posch does indeed end up sealing a belated switch to North London, that aborted Arsenal switch nearly a decade ago will forever feel like one of those ‘sliding doors’ moments.
The Bologna stopper, capped 20 times by Austria, was so far down the line with the Gunners that his living arrangements had already been decided. That was, however, until talks between Arsenal and Admira Wacker hit the buffers.
“When I was 16, I went to London four times,” Posch recalls, via Football Italia. “Arsenal had already chosen the family where I’d be living. It would have been me, a goalkeeper and Hector Bellerin.
“They told me to go to Germany and prepare my suitcase. But, in the end, they didn’t reach an agreement with my club.”
Tottenham could sign former Arsenal target Stefan Posch
A lot has changed in Posch’s life since then. He was a striker when Arsenal came calling, but now plies his trade at the other end of the pitch. That is not to say those attacking instincts have deserted Posch, however. He has four goals in just 14 Serie A games for Bologna this season; Posch’s 6ft 2ins frame making him a major threat at set-pieces.
A la Ben White, the former Hoffenheim ace has also adapted impressively to a new look right-back role of late.
“I’ve got more freedom to attack when I play as a right-back,” Posch explains. “I can be more effective with goals and assists. I also like to play as a centre-back because I enjoy battles with strikers. My role model is (PSG’s Real Madrid and Spain legend) Sergio Ramos.”
Posch is only on loan at Bologna, but the Rossoblu have a £4.5 million option-to-buy clause in his contract. They may seize the opportunity to make an immediate profit come the summer, Calciomercato reporting that Tottenham are weighing up an approach for a man now valued in the region of £10 million.
“The work we do together makes me proud,” explains Bologna coach Thiago Motta, highlighting Posch’s ability to lead by example. “You can see and feel it even in the locker room and during the week. (We are) a team that wants more.
“There are leaders who speak up and those like Posch, who speaks little but transmits a lot.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
