Union SG raise the price tag for Koki Machida amid Tottenham links
Tottenham Hotspur find themselves facing a significant hurdle in their pursuit of defender Koki Machida, as Union Saint-Gillois have increased their valuation of the Japanese centre-back.
Union Saint-Gilloise have raised their asking price to what stands described as a ‘hefty’ figure, making Spurs dig deep into their pockets if they want to secure Machida’s services in the upcoming January transfer window.
The urgency for defensive reinforcements at Tottenham has heightened due to a spate of injuries, particularly the serious hamstring injury suffered by Micky van de Ven. The young defender remains sidelined until early 2024, leaving a void in the central defensive pairing alongside Cristian Romero. With Ashley Phillips also ruled out through injury and Eric Dier seemingly out of favour under manager Ange Postecoglou, Spurs are eager to address their defensive concerns promptly.
Koki Machida, with his defensive prowess and experience gained from playing at clubs like Kashima Antlers in Japan, emerges as a viable target for Spurs.
Machida to the Lilywhites?
However, the road to securing Machida’s services seems to have become more challenging, with Union Saint-Gilloise insisting on a substantial fee of £12.8m for the 26-year-old centre-back. That is as per Het Nieuwsblad via Express.
This valuation, described as ‘hefty,’ reflects the club’s reluctance to part ways with the player at a bargain price, considering his relatively short tenure in European football.
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Tottenham’s willingness or rather, unwillingness to meet this financial demand could surely shape their defensive options heading into the crucial January transfer window.
