Tottenham Hotspur have arguably the best pair of centre-halves in the Premier League- Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Mauricio Pochettino’s build-up tactics from the deep and making the optimum use of a centre-forward like Harry Kane, have depended immensely on the Belgian duo, who have been instrumental in controlling the game at the back and distributing the ball up front.
They were significant in Tottenham’s third-place finish in the league last season and they had a brilliant start to this season as well. Crisis struck when Alderweireld endured a long-term injury early in the season leaving Vertonghen to pair up with defensive midfielder Eric Dier at the back.
The time taken to get the duo into sync, which lacked the same fluidity, affected their winning run and it brought a slump in their form. While Dier still fares well, Kevin Wimmer has failed to make any real impact and the other option -Cameron Carter-Vickers is too young to rely upon.
Now with the Belgian duo returning, the ship is back into stability for the Lilywhites as they had a comfortable win away at Fulham last weekend ending their rueful away form. Tottenham are in desperate need of centre-halves as backup and Pochettino has reportedly set his sights on Toulouse defender Issa Diop.
The 20-year-old French international is touted by many as the next big thing and Premier League clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City are already keeping tabs on him. His impressive displays are already turning heads in Ligue 1 and other European clubs like Porto and Roma are also known to be tracking the centre-back.
Arsenal and Tottenham, according to France Football, are the two clubs who are extensively scouting Diop, and a bidding war is expected this summer for his signature. The Premier League arch rivals watched the France under-21 international in action on Sunday as he helped Toulouse hold the star-studded Paris Saint-Germain to a 0-0 draw.
In his 20 appearances, so far, the centre-half has managed to score twice and register two assists. The 194cm enforcer could be intimidating for strikers up front and is a real threat from indirect set-pieces. His huge frame will be an asset for any club in the Premier League and his immense concentration on the game makes him a valuable option.
He made his debut for the France Under-21 last year in September and has earned four caps since then. He was a member of the 2016 European Under-19 Championship. He fits in well with Tottenham’s transfer policy and will be a good buy.
