LaPresse

Tottenham to battle Serie A title hopefuls for standout Genoa star

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated May 12, 2025 3:07 PM ET

Tottenham have accelerated their pursuit of Genoa defender Koni De Winter ahead of the summer transfer window

The summer transfer window fast approaching, and Tottenham Hotspur are ready to enter the market to strengthen their squad.

During the January transfer window, Spurs were forced to make a few signings owing to an injury crisis. They wanted a centre-back to cover for the injured first-choice pairing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, and got one in the form of Kevin Danso, who arrived on loan from RC Lens with an obligation to buy.

Heading into the summer transfer window next month, the Lilywhites probably need a body or two more in their defensive unit. This is because a move to Atletico Madrid is on the cards for Cristian Romero. The 2022 World Cup winner wants to end his time at White Hart Lane and play in Spain, with Atletico Madrid showing concrete interest in him in recent months.

In addition, Micky van de Ven has had a tussle with injuries since arriving at Tottenham in 2023, while Radu Dragusin is expected to spend majority of this year out following an ACL rupture. Ben Davies is out of contract at the end of the season, and the club wishes to move him on as part of the squad rebuild.

Tottenham have been linked with several defenders since the turn of the year, including Genoa’s Koni De Winter. And it looks like the Hotspur Way chiefs have upped their interest in the central defender.

According to an exclusive report from GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham have enquired about Koni De Winter, who is set to leave Genoa this summer. Crystal Palace and West Ham United have also shown interest in the defender, while Genoa’s Serie A rivals Napoli and Inter Milan remain keen too.

De Winter has become an integral part of the Genoa side ever since he initially moved on loan from Juventus in 2023. His debut season at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium saw him rack up 29 Serie A appearances, but he has not been able to match that figure or surpass it due to a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for 73 days.

Since returning from injury in late December, the Belgian has been a rock-solid performer at the back for Patrick Vieira’s side, who are currently 13th in Serie A. He has made 23 league appearances to date, scoring three goals. The aforementioned report adds De Winter will be allowed to leave Genoa this summer for between €25m and €30m. The defender perhaps feels a bigger move away from Genoa could increase his prospects of featuring in Rudi Garcia’s Belgium side in the 2026 World Cup.

At 22, De Winter is still not a finished article by any means and basically fits the category of signings Tottenham have made in recent years. He is a quality centre-back would instantly lift Spurs. The two-cap Belgium international can also operate at right-back and defensive midfield, which further adds to his value.

That said, Tottenham must not hesitate to splash the cash and bag De Winter’s signature. The Antwerp-born star has the talent and potential to become a key part of the North Londoners’ squad rebuild.

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

More must-reads: