Tottenham are scouring the market for defensive reinforcements.
Tottenham Hotspur still have plenty of work to do if they are to stay in the Premier League next season, especially after dropping points in the 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Monday. But that’s not stopping them from shifting their attention to the summer transfer window.
Roberto De Zerbi, if top-flight safety is achieved, will be well aware that his squad still needs more quality and depth if they are to compete on all fronts next season, starting with defence. The futures of centre-backs Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin are all up in the air. Romero and Van de Ven have been linked with an exit from N17 for the last few months, while Dragusin’s agent has already reached out to three Serie A clubs over a potential summer move.
As such, Tottenham have been keeping tabs on Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic. Those in the North London offices have set their sights on the Bosnia and Herzegovina international as they look to welcome key improvements, but it won’t come cheap. Sassuolo want a base figure of €25m, with Juventus having a 50% sell-on clause in the player’s current deal.
Sassuolo CEO in London amid growing interest from England in defender Tarik Muharemovic
Tarik Muharemovic has been the leader of Sassuolo’s defence this season, registering four-goal contributions in 31 Serie A outings. He also played a crucial role in Bosnia and Herzegovina beating Italy in the play-off finals on penalty shootout in March, qualifying for the World Cup in North America in the process.
The 23-year-old’s performances in Sassuolo colours haven’t gone unnoticed across the Serie A circuit, with Inter Milan also understood to be interested in his services. The interest in the Bosnian defender is growing with every passing week, and the Neroverdi would find it difficult to hold onto him for longer.
Now, according to a report from Sky Italia, Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevalli, aware of growing interest in Muharemovic from England, has travelled to London. The aim for Carnevalli’s visit is to speak to Premier League clubs, possibly Tottenham, over Muharemovic, who has a big chance to leave Mapei Stadium at the end of this season.
A potential Van de Ven replacement?
Van de Ven has been a reliable performer for Spurs since arriving from Wolfsburg in 2023. He has had injury problems, but when fully fit, the Dutchman has been an asset to the team. However, his strong displays at the back have garnered interest from several top European clubs.
Liverpool have set their sights on Van de Ven as a potential long-term replacement for their star skipper, Virgil van Dijk. Regardless of what happens with Tottenham at the end of the month, Van de Ven is seemingly considering a potential move away from N17 in the summer. Thus, the N17 bosses must secure a significant fee from the Netherlands international’s possible sale and reinvest in his quality replacement.
Muharemovic, in that regard, would fit the bill perfectly. A left-footed, technically secure and aerially strong defender, the Sassuolo man ticks the boxes to operate in De Zerbi’s possession-based system. And at a base asking price of just €25m, Tottenham can actually land a big bargain in the summer.