Tottenham have reportedly missed out on Jairo Riedewald.
According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur were interested in signing Ajax defender Jairo Riedewald, but he will join Crystal Palace instead for a shot at greater playing time.
Spurs have been quiet in the transfer market so far this summer, as they have yet to sign a player, or even let any first-team players leave the club.
Ajax’s Jairo Riedewald in action with Lyon’s Mathieu Valbuena
Manager Mauricio Pochettino is believed to be keen on defensive reinforcements though, and with fringe defender Kevin Wimmer potentially seeking a move away, another defender has been linked with Spurs.
The Daily Mail report that Tottenham wanted to sign Ajax defender Jairo Riedewald, but are set to miss out to London rivals Crystal Palace in an £8.7million deal.
Riedewald, 20, has come up through the famed Ajax academy to become an important first-team player, and new Palace boss Frank de Boer is set to reunite with him having handed the youngster his Ajax debut.
First-team football is believed to be the reason why Riedewald has chosen Palace over a possible move to Spurs, and that leaves manager Mauricio Pochettino looking elsewhere for reinforcements.
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini in action with Ajax’s Jairo Riedewald
Capable of playing at left back, centre back or in holding midfield, Riedewald would have been an ideal versatile squad player for Pochettino, as he would have been able to fill a number of roles in Pochettino’s 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-2-1 systems.
Instead, Riedewald is heading to Palace, and Spurs will hope that they haven’t missed out on a bargain as the talented youngster prepares to start his Premier League career at Selhurst Park.
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