Tottenham are eyeing a surprise raid on the Brazilian market for a defender.
Tottenham Hotspur have brought in much-needed firepower this week by signing Savio and Omar Marmoush from Manchester City. The expectations are high for both Savio and Marmoush, who struggled for regular opportunities at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite overseeing an expensive squad rebuild this summer, Roberto De Zerbi remains extremely hopeful that the club officials can finalise one more crucial deal before the September 1 transfer deadline. Indeed, after the chastening opening-weekend loss at Brentford, it won’t be surprising if Spurs are looking to add another forward to solve the goalscoring concerns.
Instead, it looks like the Lilywhites are looking out for a central defender.
Tottenham exploring move for Cruzeiro talent
According to Brazilian outlet RTI Esporte, Tottenham are weighing up a move for Cruzeiro defender Jonathan Jesus. Nottingham Forest and Chelsea are also monitoring the situation of the 22-year-old, who faces an uncertain future at Cruzeiro.
The Brazilian club have already rejected an €8m offer from Zenit Saint Petersburg for Jonathan Jesus this summer. This is because they value their defensive starlet at more than €20m. The report adds that Jonathan is excited by the prospect of moving to Europe amid interest from the aforementioned Premier League troika.
Jonathan moved to Cruzeiro from Ceara in 2024 and has racked up 68 appearances thus far, netting two goals and an assist. He has made 32 appearances this season, with Cruzeiro fifth in the Brazilian Serie A standings.
Potential Kevin Danso replacement?
Recent reports have emerged suggesting that Tottenham rejected a loan offer for Kevin Danso from Sunderland. After the arrivals of Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi, Danso has dropped in the defensive pecking order under De Zerbi. The Austrian international might struggle for regular opportunities this season, resulting in his desire to leave the club before next week’s transfer deadline.
Should Tottenham sanction Danso’s late exit, signing Jesus might then become an option. With no prior Premier League experience, Jonathan could come in at White Hart Lane as a replacement for Danso and provide defensive cover. He will not be an immediate starter, but with time, adaptability and experience, the Brazilian could become a valuable long-term asset for De Zerbi.
With Chelsea and Nottingham Forest also keeping tabs, it will be intriguing to see whether Spurs table a bid for Jonathan or not.