£15m Tottenham target could actually replace Ryan Sessegnon in January, he’s similar to Destiny Udogie

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Tottenham Hotspur have been heavily linked with a move for Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior ahead of the January transfer window. 

Spurs are widely expected to prioritise a move for a centre-back next month after Micky van de Ven’s injury. But one name who keeps popping up as a possible target for Spurs over the past few weeks is Samuel Iling-Junior. 

Indeed, The Evening Standard claimed just this week that Tottenham are leading the race to sign the Juventus winger. 

Ange Postecoglou is without several key players due to injury at the moment and he’s short of options out wide due to Ivan Perisic and Manor Solomon’s setbacks earlier in the campaign.

But in our view, Iling-Junior may fit the profile to come in and provide cover for Destiny Udogie, as well as in the wide positions. 

Iling-Junior could replace Sessegnon as Udogie understudy

Ryan Sessegnon is currently working his way back from another hamstring injury and could return to training within a few weeks.

Yet, his days at Spurs may be numbered as he doesn’t seem well-suited to the inverted full-back role.

Udogie has adjusted brilliantly to his new role under Postecoglou after predominantly playing as a wing-back during his spell at Udinese.

And while Iling-Junior has played out wide for the majority of his career, he’s also been used at wing-back and in midfield under Massimiliano Allegri this season. 

Of course, Udogie also played as a central midfielder as a youth player and he’s already shown he’s comfortable in the middle of the pitch at Tottenham. 

Iling-Junior boasts many similar traits to that of Udogie and hardly specialises in 1v1 situations as a winger.

The £15 million man has already displayed he’s capable of playing at wing-back for Juve and was brought on as a midfielder in his last appearance in Serie A. 

The 20-year-old has struggled for minutes this season but has shown plenty of promise in Turin after leaving Chelsea’s academy back in 2020.

It may feel like a bit of a stretch considering Iling-Junior hasn’t played as a left-back in a back-four. But he could well be more suited to that inverted full-back role over the likes of Sessegnon and Davies, while also providing cover on either wing.