Transfer News: Tottenham Hotspur keeping tabs on Atletico Madrid centre-back Mario Hermoso
According to Daily Mail Online, Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Atletico Madrid centre-back Mario Hermoso ahead of the summer transfer window. He has fallen out of favour since January, having struggled with injuries alongside Reinildo’s arrival in that month.
Hermoso was previously linked with a potential move to Tottenham last summer. They are searching the market for a left-sided centre-back which has resulted in them tracking him at this moment. He is also joined by Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Josko Gvardiol of RB Leipzig in their transfer shortlist.
Atleti are believed to be willing to entertain offers from Hermoso for the right transfer price. Spurs would need to make a bid after considering how he is contracted until 2024 at Wanda Metropolitano. That being said, he is touted to be the least expensive option on their shortlist right now.
Hermoso- the right choice?
While the Spanish international has fallen out of favour recently, he still possesses the qualities to keep performing as a top centre-back. After all, he did play a key part in Atleti’s success before this period, and he can do the same moving forward.
The 26-year-old has 2 goals to his name alongside an assist in 32 games across all competitions this season. Perhaps getting regular gametime can reignite his career, with the defender having been benched in all four of Los Colchoneros’ games in April this year.
We have already seen how Antonio Conte has helped out of favour stars like Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur to become key players for us. Both of them weren’t grabbing headlines at Juventus, but they have been in top form for us since the winter transfer window closed.
If that is the case, it would not be wise to hold it against Conte to do the same with Hermoso. What’s more, signing a cheaper option like him compared to Bastoni or Gvardiol could help us save some money to use in other areas of our squad. A backup centre-forward, for example, is a position that we would be smart to bolster this summer given the lack of backup Harry Kane has in that role.
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Signing a left centre-back would be a necessity considering how Ben Davies is deputising in a makeshift role for us. He has done well so far, but it would be a bit safer for us if a natural centre-back plays in that position. Hermoso can be that man, but it will be interesting to see if an agreement can be reached over a potential move.
Spurs fans don’t need reminding about the last centre-back we signed from Atletico. Toby Alderweireld joined the Lilywhites back in 2015 and left after 6 years, making 236 appearances for us in the process. If Hermoso can replicate the Belgian’s impact at N17- assuming that he signs for us- then it would certainly be a smart signing on our part.
