Tottenham learn price tag of 26-year-old defender who’s been a mainstay this season in the PL

Tottenham are set to battle Aston Villa and Newcastle United for the signing of a Premier League defender.

Tottenham Hotspur finally decided to part ways with Igor Tudor on Sunday afternoon, ending his wretched 44-day interim spell in North London.

Spurs are in deep trouble, and the club chiefs feel Roberto De Zerbi is the man to dig them out of the hole. They want to bring the Italian manager in the coming days on a five-year contract. The N17 bosses believe he can keep them in the Premier League, and they can then build with him for next season.

Simultaneously, it looks like Tottenham have started planning behind the scenes to reinforce the squad. The North London are expected to be busy in the transfer market this summer as they need a strong squad to bounce back from a forgettable campaign, regardless of their status.

Strengthening the backline has to be among the priorities after witnessing our defenders endure an underwhelming campaign. Also, given the futures of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven remain up in the air, a central defender should be signed without fail.

Tottenham interested in Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk

According to a report from SportsBoom, Tottenham are interested in signing Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk, but faces competition from Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

Pascal Struijk has been a part of the Leeds United furniture since 2018. He has seen the Whites achieve promotion to the Premier League, go down to the Championship and come back to the top. The Dutchman has made over 180 appearances across seven seasons at Elland Road.

A key part of the club’s cultural and tactical identity, the 26-year-old has been a mainstay in the starting XI this season under Daniel Farke. Leeds United do not wish to sell Struijk, but with the left-footed defender about to enter the final year of his contract in the summer and the club’s squad overhaul plans to continue their journey in the top flight, they are willing to open negotiations from the £30 million mark.

Signing Struijk would make sense for Spurs

From Tottenham’s perspective, Struijk is not only experienced but also at a perfect age to slot into De Zerbi’s system. The Italian likes to have ball-playing, adventurous defenders who can make progressive passes and initiate attacks from deep, and Struijk fits that criteria.

Strong in the air, tough-tackling and composed on the ball, the 26-year-old is exactly the kind of defensive reinforcement needed in N17. If Tottenham retains its top-flight status and Van de Ven ends up staying, the Leeds star would be a solid player to compete and cover for the Dutchman next season.

At £30 million or perhaps a bit more, the Lilywhites would be addressing a problematic position in their squad for years to come, and at the same time hurting Aston Villa and Newcastle’s transfer strategy to build strong squads. This would only be possible if we remain in the Premier League.