Hoffenheim defender Jeremy Toljan is reportedly wanted by Tottenham.
Hoffenheim boss Julian Nagelsmann has told Bild that defender Jeremy Toljan won’t be leaving the club this summer, despite his contract running and interest from Tottenham.
Nagelsmann led Hoffenheim to the Champions League qualifiers with a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga last season, with 30-year-old coach earning huge plaudits for his work so far.
Nagelsmann has helped develop the likes of Kerem Demirbay, Nadiem Amiri and Steven Zuber, but interest is now building in another young Hoffenheim star – Jeremy Toljan.
Hoffenheim head coach Julian Nagelsmann
Toljan, 22, joined Hoffenheim from hometown club Stuttgart back in 2011, and has become an important part of Nagelsmann’s team at right wing back.
The German Under-21 international played 20 Bundesliga games last season, notching one goal and one assist whilst showing real promise and potential in an exciting Hoffenheim side.
Now, Sky Sports report that Tottenham Hotspur are interested in landing Toljan this summer, as Mauricio Pochettino looks for an athletic right back to replace Kyle Walker, following his move to Manchester City.
Tottenham are particularly keen to land Toljan given that his contract expires in 2018, meaning that they could land a bargain this summer – and the full back missed Hoffenheim’s trip to face Derby County on Saturday.
However, Nagelsmann has now told Bild that Toljan’s absence was not down to him being on the verge of leaving the club, but more to do with his fitness, as he bids to keep the player away from Spurs’ clutches this summer.
“No,” said Nagelsmann. “There is no suggestion of selling a player when I don’t take them. If I want a player to leave, I tell him to his face and don’t act like a little boy by not selecting him. That would be a sign of weakness in my leadership for me and I don’t believe in it.”
“His physical condition suggests that playing in a game would not make sense. It was better, just because he is a high-speed guy, that he trained twice back at home.”
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