Tottenham have shown an interest in signing Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin to comply with UEFA rules next season
Tottenham Hotspur fans have been frustrated with the lack of transfer activity since the start of the summer window on June 1.
It has been exactly a month and all Spurs have managed to do so far is turn Mathys Tel’s loan deal from Bayern Munich into a permanent agreement. While they are set to welcome Japanese prospect Kota Takai from Kawasaki Frontale, the pace at which the Hotspur Way officials have operated thus far has not gone down well within the fanbase. The Lilywhites may end up missing out on their intended targets if there is no shift in gears by Daniel Levy and Co. in the coming weeks.
Upgrading the starting XI has to be the priority for new boss Thomas Frank, though, adding players to the squad to provide depth and rotation will also be important, especially following Tottenham’s entry into the Champions League. As a result, the North London club must comply with UEFA’s rules in order to compete in the Champions League next season.
As per Football London, UEFA rules state that Tottenham must have four ‘club-trained players’ in their squad, someone who has been on a club’s books for three entire seasons or 36 months between the ages of 15 and 21. Currently, they have just one in the form of goalkeeper Brandon Austin.
This has led to links with Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin. The 23-year-old signed for Sunderland in 2021, having never made a senior appearance for Tottenham, and has gone on to establish himself a key player of the Wearside club. He was instrumental for the Black Cats in their promotion-winning campaign via play-offs, registering three goals and two assists in 39 appearances.
Sunderland could accept offers for Dennis Cirkin in the region of £20million, but reputable Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham believes the defender will stay at the Stadium of Light this summer.
“I don’t see Cirkin joining Tottenham,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“He will want to play in the Premier League with Sunderland, and I think Tottenham will be reluctant to pay big money on a player who they had a £6m buyback clause for up until last summer.
“I appreciate he’s only got one year left on his deal, but I can see Cirkin reaching some sort of agreement which will see him carry on at Sunderland. He’s a very good player, by the way. I just don’t see this one happening.”
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While Wenham thinks a deal would not materialise, Sunderland closing in on the signing of Reinildo may hint at Cirkin’s exit. Reinildo, who spent the last four seasons with Atletico Madrid, usually operates at left-back which is also the natural position of Cirkin.
Given the Mozambique international’s experienced and pedigree, the Black Cats are unlikely to utilise him as a back-up option, potentially signalling that the newly-promoted Premier League side are planning for Cirkin’s exit. The capture of Reinildo will provide Spurs with a surprise boost to their hopes of signing their former academy player, who could be interested in returning to North London.