Tottenham have plans to sign a new left-back in the summer.
Tottenham Hotspur remain determined to secure their top-flight status and have made a big call to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach to get them over the line.
Roberto De Zerbi is here for the long haul, having penned a five-year contract with no relegation clause. The Italian has promised to stick with the club even if the unthinkable happens at the end of the season. For now, his entire focus will be on getting Spurs out of the rut and guiding them to a respectable finish.
Behind the scenes, things are already moving when it comes to the recruitment strategy. Tottenham are keen to reinforce their defensive unit by adding a new full-back. This has seen them make contact with Sporting CP over a move for Maxi Araujo.
Maxi Araujo has been one of Sporting CP’s key players this season, racking up six goals and four assists in 36 games in all competitions. The left-back’s performances have not gone unnoticed across the competition, but the Portuguese club are relaxed over his situation as he has been protected by an €80m release clause in his contract that runs until 2029.
Tottenham send scouts to watch Maxi Araujo vs. Arsenal
During the past international break, Araujo dropped a hint of wanting to test himself in the Premier League in the future. Tottenham had scouts tracking the 26-year-old when Uruguay faced England in a friendly fixture at Wembley Stadium last month.
Now, Sport Witness reports Spurs scouted the Sporting left-back against Arsenal at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie. Chelsea also had their officials to watch the Uruguayan international in action on the big European night. He started and played the full 90 minutes on Tuesday night.
These repeated scouting trips show Tottenham’s interest in Araujo isn’t casual. It signals something concrete, as the South American continues to impress in both the Portuguese league and Europe. The Lilywhites’ problems at left-back have been well-documented, with Destiny Udogie struggling to stay fit since the start of last season. Following persistent injury issues, the Italian international’s minutes on the pitch have become limited, leading to inconsistent displays.
For Tottenham to become a competitive unit under De Zerbi, they simply cannot carry passengers. Udogie, at the moment, cannot be viewed as a starting left-back for Spurs next season, which is perhaps the reason why Araujo is wanted. If Tottenham avoid the drop and manage to convince Araujo of their project, albeit without European football, then Udogie might end up packing his bags.