Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, Duncan Castles has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing up a move for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane.
Varane had been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, but Spurs are seemingly thinking about joining the race for the World Cup winners’ signature.
What’s been said?
Castles says that Spurs are exploring the possibility of signing Varane, even though on the surface the deal looks strange.
“So the player (Varane) is available, but another bit of guidance I have is that there is competition for his services and one of the clubs that are exploring the possibility of doing the deal is Tottenham Hotspur.
“Now, that would initially seem extremely strange given the cost involved, particularly the salary costs, given Tottenham’s financial position, something Daniel Levy has openly talked about with the financial hit they took opening the stadium and it being left empty for the majority of its short existence, this is a stadium that cost over £1bn to build.
“However, take a step back and look at where Tottenham are, a new Sporting Director, new coach coming in, a squad that has been in desperate need of a rebuild for a couple of seasons now, they have their most valuable asset, Harry Kane, publicly asking to leave the club.”
Marquee signing
As Castles says, initially, this rumour looks very strange, but when you scratch below the surface it makes more and more sense.
If Kane is sold, Spurs will be able to afford such a move, and given their problems at centre-back over the years, this is exactly what they need.
It would also be an easy way to get fans on side with the new regime under Nuno and Fabio Paratici by pulling off one of the biggest transfer deals in the club’s history, beating Manchester United to a signing in the process.
This is certainly an interesting situation and it’s one that could develop in the coming weeks.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
