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Tottenham scouts in attendance to watch 26-year-old Colombian star

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated May 12, 2025 9:56 PM ET

Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi has emerged as a target for Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a squad overhaul, as Daniel Levy looks to make improvements on the pitch after a disastrous campaign.

The Europa League remains the only chance for Ange Postecoglou to salvage the season to some extent. Ange Postecoglou and Co. are just one step away from being crowned Europa League champions, and by doing so, Spurs would also make a direct entry into the Champions League next season.

Qualification to the Champions League is seen crucial to the club bosses’ summer plans, with several players targeted to revamp the struggling squad. The defence is one of the areas of concerns, given the amount of goals conceding and injury concerns. None of the central defenders have managed to keep themselves fit this season, and the constant chopping and changing of personnel have led to a porous backline.

Cristian Romero has been linked with an exit from N17, while Micky van de Ven’s struggles with hamstring problems remains a concern. Radu Dragusin has been set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines following an ACL rupture, and Kevin Danso is yet to prove himself at the club after arriving on loan from RC Lens during the winter transfer window.

Thus, it is not surprising that Spurs are scouring the market for a central defender. According to an exclusive report from TBR Football, Tottenham are among several Premier League clubs to have scouted Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi. Intermediaries are talking to a number of clubs, informing them about the player’s situation at the Serie A side.

Jhon Lucumi arrived at Bologna from Genk in 2022 and has since been a consistent performer in defence. He has racked up over 100 appearances across three seasons, proving his worth to the Italian side. The Colombian international has been a standout performer this term, assisting once in 30 league appearances to date.

Now, on course to enter the final year of his contract, the 26-year-old wants to leave the Vincenzo Italiano-managed side this summer. Bologna do not want to lose him for nothing in 2026, so the aforementioned report adds that they are open to listening to offers for Lucumi when the transfer window reopens next month.

After two outstanding seasons, Lucumi seems to be heading towards the Bologna exit door. Tottenham are in a dire need of a left-footed defender to compete and cover for the injury prone Van de Ven, and Lucumi fits the bill perfectly. Considering he will enter the last 12 months of his contract (Transfermarkt) in the summer, the Italian side are not in a strong position to set a high valuation.

At 26, the South American is perhaps entering the peak years of his career, and a strong, agile and athletic centre-back with ball-playing ability would make a massive difference to the Lilywhites’ defence. However, the North London club will face an uphill task to tempt Lucumi to White Hart Lane due to the stiff competition from European outfits.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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