Tottenham are keen on bolstering their defence midway through the season after a shaky start in the Premier League.
Tottenham have not gotten off to a flying start in the Premier League this season. The Lilywhites are struggling to find momentum, and there is clearly a lack of cohesion and understanding among the new players on the pitch. That is something most match-going fans would have expected from the North Londoners, given that this is a new-look team and the players are still adapting to the demands of Roberto De Zerbi’s playing style.
Spurs did well to recruit Premier League-proven players during the recently concluded transfer window. They brought in more experience and leadership at the back to bolster and fix a leaky defence that conceded 57 goals in the league last season. Signing experienced heads like Martin Dubravka, Marcos Senesi, and Andy Robertson on free transfers made complete sense. On the other hand, the Lilywhites did not lack intent and also splashed the cash on Jan Paul van Hecke and Tosin Adarabioyo before the transfer window shut.
With all these high-profile names coming in, the North Londoners were also forced to sell some of their key defenders during the latter stages of the window. As a result, Spurs cashed in quickly on Cristian Romero and Djed Spence in the summer, with both players heading to Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan respectively. However, despite making these changes to the backline, the new-look defense is yet to click under Roberto De Zerbi this season.
Tottenham monitoring Juventus centre-back Pierre Kalulu
In their opening three matches of the new Premier League season, Spurs have already conceded five goals. The Lilywhites suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat against Brentford on the opening day before losing 0-2 at home to Newcastle United in matchweek two. A hard-fought 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest showed some encouraging signs, as the North Londoners did well to shut up shop at the back and do everything they could to avoid conceding a goal at the City Ground.
However, it seems like Spurs need additional reinforcements at the back during the upcoming January transfer window. The defence, despite all the good work it did against Nottingham Forest, has looked shaky on multiple occasions. The players are struggling to follow simple instructions, and there is no real communication at the back, causing the Lilywhites a lot of problems against high-pressing and potent attackers. A new centre-back could compete for a starting eleven spot and keep the players on their toes as well.
As per Ekrem Konur (via X), Spurs are closely monitoring Juventus centre-back Pierre Kalulu. The Frenchman has taken huge strides during his time in Turin, taking on a leadership role at the back. His stellar performances for the Serie A giants have garnered some Premier League interest, with Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Manchester United intensely monitoring his situation at Juve. Konur also reports that the Bianconeri would only listen to offers in the range of €50m for Kalulu, as the club values his importance to the team and is not ready to lose him midway through the season.
In all honesty, Spurs do not need to splash the cash on a new centre-back in the coming months. There are enough players in the current squad who could easily do a good job at the back under Roberto De Zerbi. Fans must understand that the new players are taking their time to settle into their new surroundings, and that is exactly why the North Londoners are struggling defensively. Once it all clicks, the Lilywhites will surely look defensively resolute and show positive signs as the campaign progresses.
