Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of Radu Dragusin – and Eric Dier’s move to Bayern Munich has made this transfer saga simply perfect for Spurs.
Ange Postecoglou will have been delighted to sign a new attacker in Timo Werner, but his top priority was a centre back.
Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven were forming a superb partnership earlier this season but injuries to both centre backs exposed Tottenham’s lack of defensive depth.
Spurs simply had to find another centre back and will now feel that they pulled off the perfect transfer moves…
Tottenham sign Radu Dragusin – and flog Eric Dier in the process
Genoa centre back Radu Dragusin became the top target for Spurs, even with Tottenham also exploring a move to sign Nice ace Jean-Clair Todibo.
Tottenham moved in for Dragusin but faced an unwanted phenomenon – a January window transfer saga.
Bayern Munich launched a hijack attempt with the Bundesliga champions making a late move to snatch Dragusin away from Spurs.
Dragusin decided to sign for Tottenham though, surprising many by rejecting Bayern and completing a move to North London.
The 21-year-old seems to be the exact signing Tottenham wanted at the back.
Physical and on the front foot like Romero but also quick and capable of playing on the left side of defence like Van de Ven, Dragusin offers ideal competition for both centre back spots in Postecoglou’s back four.
Add in that Dragusin has enormous potential and Tottenham will feel like big winners, especially having made a huge statement by beating a European powerhouse in Bayern.
Incredibly, this transfer seems to have become even better for Tottenham.
Bayern still wanted a centre back after missing out on Dragusin and, given his move to North London, they called Spurs over a deal to sign Eric Dier.
Dier has been an outstanding servant to Tottenham, giving nearly 10 years of service following a 2014 move from Sporting.
The 29-year-old’s time at Spurs was up though having started just one Premier League this season.
It became pretty clear that Dier simply wasn’t suited to Postecoglou’s approach given his lack of pace with full backs Emerson Royal and Ben Davies preferred over Dier.
Full backs playing over a natural centre back signalled the end of the road for Dier and his contract was coming to an end in the summer anyway.
Yet rather than have Dier stuck around – possibly as sixth-choice centre back – until the summer, Tottenham have now offloaded him and brought in a small chunk of cash.
It is difficult to imagine a better scenario for Tottenham; a top young centre back coming in, beating a top European club to his signature, then selling an unwanted player to them.
Of course, Dragusin must now perform on the pitch, but Tottenham will feel that this transfer saga – which could have gone so wrong just a few days ago – has worked out pretty perfectly.
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