According to El Transistor, Tottenham are in the market for Alvaro Odriozola. They are looking for a new right-back in the closing stages of the transfer window, with the Real Madrid defender emerging as an ideal candidate. Odriozola is expected to leave Santiago Bernabeu this summer, but Spurs could face stiff competition from AC Milan and Fiorentina while they may also need to offload Serge Aurier.
Alvaro Odriozola’s Struggles At Real Madrid
Alvaro Odriozola joined Real Madrid in 2018 in the hopes of becoming the long-term successor for Dani Carvajal. Unfortunately for both parties, the €30 million man has never really managed to live up to the expectations at the Bernabeu.
The right-back made only 14 league appearances during his first season at the club. And after failing to make an impression, he was shipped to Bayern in January 2020 on a season-long loan deal. Although the defender ended up winning the treble with FCB, he mustered only five appearances for the club.
Odriozola spent the entirety of last season at Real Madrid but has only managed 824 minutes of league football, falling behind Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal in the pecking order.
Despite his struggles, though, Odriozola is highly regarded as a talented right-back due to his technical prowess. He can rotate the ball pretty much and offer security in possession. He may not have the pace or athleticism most fullbacks have, but the Spaniard can make up for it with his ingenuity in possession.
A Good Option For Tottenham?
Tottenham Hotspur are in dire need of an overhaul in the right-back position. Their two main options in Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty have both been underwhelming, to say the least, with the former being deemed surplus to requirement by new coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
Odriozola could be an ideal replacement for the Ivorian. He can offer the technical abilities that will add some much-needed variety in the right-back department, consisting of the defensive-minded Japhet Tanganga and the more athletic and direct natured Doherty.
The Spaniard has endured a steady decline in his game since joining Real Madrid. But he still has the capacity to become an asset for a Tottenham side, who are hoping to rejuvenate themselves after a couple of difficult seasons.
Unfortunately for them, the Lilywhites must offload Aurier in order to afford Odriozola, which might be a difficult task as most European clubs have been extremely frugal with their expenditures this summer, in light of the pandemic.
