Tottenham Hotspur have joined Liverpool in the race to sign Braga defender David Carmo with Spurs now seen as the main competition.
That’s according to The Sunday Mirror (01/05, p73), who claim that a real fight for Carmo is materialising.
It’s claimed that Liverpool have scoured Carmo on at least seven occasions this season alone as they consider another raid on the Portuguese market.
Liverpool pounced to sign Luis Diaz from Porto in January and that deal has proven to be masterstroke from the Reds.
Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur to that deal and it looks like the pair are going head-to-head once again for Carmo.
It’s suggested that Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund are the biggest rivals to Liverpool’s interest in Carmo.
Carmo, 22, is a left-sided centre back who stands at a huge 6ft 5in tall.
Formerly in the Benfica ranks, Carmo has really thrived with Braga and now has more than 50 first-team appearances to his name.
Tottenham are likely to be eyeing up a left-sided defender this summer. Ben Davies isn’t a natural fit as a left-sided centre back in Antonio Conte’s setup, so Carmo could come in.
Tottenham have also considered Nico Schlotterbeck for this left-sided role – and that’s where this transfer pursuit could swing.
Dortmund are chasing Schlotterbeck and appear to be favourites to sign him this summer. Marco Rose’s side have also secured Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule on a free transfer.
It’s therefore unlikely that Dortmund would splash out on both Schlotterbeck and Carmo, so one of them could be available for Tottenham.
That looks likely to be Carmo, with The Mirror suggesting that he could be signed for just £20million this summer.
We can’t see Liverpool making a move this summer. It’s hard enough to give first-team football to all of Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Adding in another centre back just wouldn’t make sense unless somebody is leaving Anfield.
Compared to Sergio Ramos by his former Braga youth coach Jose Carvalho Araujo, it’s clear that Carmo is highly rated.
Tottenham may now be favourites, with Carmo a name to keep a close eye on.
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