Tottenham could have allegedly signed defender for £17m last year; he could now reportedly join PL rivals for £34m

Follow us on Google Discover

Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for a central defender this summer, just like they were last year. Toby Alderweireld’s future was up in the air but the Belgian eventually decided to renew his deal with Spurs.

However, his compatriot decided against that. Jan Vertonghen has left the club and Tottenham need to bring in a quality defender to fill in for the experienced Belgian this summer.

Spurs, when Mauricio Pochettino was looking to replace Alderweireld last summer, were allegedly interested in signing Lazio’s Luiz Felipe. The Brazilian was then available for just £17 million (Daily Mail) but it looks like his value has doubled now.

La Lazio Sia Monoi have claimed today that Tottenham’s new Premier League rivals Leeds United have initiated talks to sign the Brazilian defender before the start of next season.

The report claims that Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain also like Felipe, but it is Marcelo Bielsa’s side who have accelerated their attempts to sign him in the coming weeks.

It is claimed that Leeds are prepared to offer £26 million for the Brazilian but Lazio are demanding more. The Biancocelesti will hold out for a fee in the region of £34 million; double what Tottenham could have got him for last year.

Missed opportunity for Spurs?

Felipe had a brilliant campaign for Lazio in Serie A last season. The Brazilian, still only 23, was a real leader at the back playing in the centre of Simone Inzaghi’s three-man defence and conceding the fewest goals in Italy’s top-flight last term.

The former Ituano man will likely be a big success if he makes a move to Leeds. However, at just £17 million, he could have been a fantastic bargain for Tottenham and he would have thrived under a manager like Jose Mourinho.