Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly keen on Valencia’s Joao Cancelo.
According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur scouted Valencia right back Joao Cancelo in June – and manager Mauricio Pochettino is described as being ‘eager’ to sign him this summer.
Spurs are still the only Premier League team yet to make a new signing this summer, with Pochettino so far failing to boost a squad which finished second in the Premier League last season.
Portugal defender Joao Cancelo
Spurs have though sold right back Kyle Walker to Manchester City in a big-money deal, and Tottenham may decide to reinvest a chunk of that money in a replacement for Walker before this month’s transfer deadline.
Pochettino does have Kieran Trippier and youngster Kyle Walker-Peters at his disposal at right back, but the former is injured and the latter is inexperienced, meaning another right back – who can play as a right wing back in Pochettino’s 3-4-2-1 system – should be a priority for Spurs.
Now, the Daily Mail report that Tottenham scouted Valencia’s Joao Cancelo in action for Portugal during the Under-21 European Championships in Poland earlier this summer – and manager Pochettino is allegedly ‘eager’ to tie up a deal and bring him to North London.
It’s noted that Juventus are preparing to pay around £25million to land Cancelo, meaning Spurs will have to move quickly if they are to beat the Italian champions and Champions League finalists to the Portuguese talent’s signature.
Joao Cancelo (L) of Valencia CF
Cancelo, 23, came up through the ranks with Benfica before heading to Valencia in 2014, and he fits the bill for Tottenham having played at right back, right wing back and even on the right of midfield, giving Pochettino the flexibility he’s looking for.
Cancelo’s pace and ability on the ball will be hugely appealing to Pochettino as he looks to replace Walker, and we may now see Spurs press ahead with a move for Cancelo in the final weeks of the transfer window.
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